Children at risk: Assessment of a self-esteem improvement program

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the level of effectiveness of a program for developing self-esteem (PIAMRS) in young people in social risk. The sample consisted of 110 youngsters aged between 9 and 12, of whom 72 belong to the experimental group and 38 to the control group. All of them were evaluated before and after the intervention. The analysis of variance shows that after the intervention the experimental group increased self-esteem levels more than the control group. The results prove the effectiveness of the program: The variable gender does not have a moderating effect on these results. There are differences in results depending on the culture of origin: In this case the gypsy group shows the lowest improvement level after the intervention, when compared to the non-gipsy group and the immigrant group.