Gender differences in the self-esteem levels of adolescent students

Mira Jane Borders, Tennessee State University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the self-concept levels of sixth- through eighth-grade students in relation to gender. Data for this study were collected from the raw self-concept scores obtained by students on the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. This instrument provided measures of global self-concept as well as measures for specific dimensions of self-concept. In February of 1995, the Piers-Harris survey was administered to 222 students who attended a public middle school in the middle Tennessee area. The data for this study were analyzed using t tests and analysis of variance tests. Sex and grade level of the students served as the independent variables of the study, while raw self-concept scores served as the dependent variable. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that no significant gender differences in self-concept scores existed among students at any given grade level. Similarly, no significant differences in self-concept were noted when the combined effects of sex and grade level were calculated. However, significant self-concept differences between students at different grade levels were disclosed. Further analyses revealed that while no significant differences in self-concept were noted between sixth- and eighth-grade males, significant differences between sixth- and eighth-grade females were noted. The findings of this study are consistent with the results of other studies discussed in the literature review which reveal that no significant gender differences exist in the self-esteem levels of adolescents. Existing evidence also supported the finding that a decrease in the self-esteem levels of students is more acute for females than for males. Such findings are of importance to school administrators who can implement intervention programs designed to increase the self-concept levels of students during the critical period of adolescence.

Subject Area

Secondary education|Educational psychology

Recommended Citation

Mira Jane Borders, "Gender differences in the self-esteem levels of adolescent students" (1995). ETD Collection for Tennessee State University. Paper AAI9806592.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI9806592

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