Self-esteem in adolescents

Abstract

PURPOSE. Self-esteem is an overall evaluation of the person’s value, expressed in a positive or negative orientation towards himself. Its development starts from birth and is constantly changing under the influence of experience (1). Especially important is the role of self-esteem in the process of adolescence. During this period, it correlates with both academic achievement and mental health. The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation between academic achievement and self-esteem among teenagers. Forty 14-year-old students (20 boys and 20 girls) with excellent, very good and good results in school were examined. Methods: Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) (2). The study results show that girls have significantly more negative attitudes towards themselves (x = 32.25) comparing with boys (x = 25.14). These results support the need for further research to explore how individual and contextual factors affect the development of self-esteem over the school years.

Keywords

• self-esteem
• adolescence
• academic achievement
• self-perception