Influence of economics students’ self-esteem on their academic engagement: The moderating role of gender

Abstract

This study investigated the moderating role of gender in the influence of Economics students' self-esteem on their academic engagement. This quantitative research used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 422 senior high school Economics students. The Academic Engagement and Self-Esteem Scales served as the instruments for data collection in this study. The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The study revealed that there was a statistically significant positive influence of Economics students' self-esteem on their academic engagement. Specifically, it was found out that self-esteem had a significant positive influence on academic affective, behavioural and cognitive engagement. Also, it was discovered that gender did not moderate the influence of students’ self-esteem on their academic affective, behavioural and cognitive engagement. Therefore, it was recommended that parents, guardians and Economics teachers should guide students to improve upon their self-esteem since high self-esteem will lead to high academic engagement.

Keywords

• Affective engagement
• Behavioural engagement
• Economics students
• Moderating role
• Self-esteem