Exploring Self-Esteem Levels among Adolescents: A Gender Perspective
Shubham Raj *
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Community Science, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.
Arifa M. Begum
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Community Science, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.
Tulika Borah
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Community Science, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.
Priyanka Nath
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.
Borsha Neog
Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study aimed to assess self-esteem levels among adolescents and examine gender differences. An exploratory research design was employed, using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) to measure global self-worth. The sample included 201 adolescents (105 males and 96 females) with a mean age of 15.2 years, drawn from secondary schools in Jorhat, Assam, India. The results showed that a majority of adolescents exhibited average levels of self-esteem, indicating a balanced self-perception in most participants. However, a significant gender difference was observed; male adolescents reported higher self-esteem scores compared to females. This difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01) through an independent sample t-test. The findings suggest that gender plays a vital role in adolescent self-esteem, potentially influenced by socio-cultural factors such as body image, societal expectations, and peer pressure. The study highlights the need for gender-responsive strategies to support adolescent psychological development.
Keywords: Adolescence, self-esteem, self-worth, gender differences, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale