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Relationship of Adolescent Self‐Esteem to Selected Academic Variables
Author(s) -
Filozof Eileen M.,
Albertin Helena K.,
Jones Courtney R.,
Steme Sylvia S.,
Myers Leann,
McDermott Robert J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1998.tb07194.x
Subject(s) - self esteem , legal guardian , attendance , psychology , test (biology) , academic achievement , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , paleontology , political science , law , economics , biology , economic growth
This study investigated whether self‐esteem precedes various academic behaviors and beliefs among 593 high school students (63.7% female, 60.9% African American). Measures of home and school self‐esteem, grade point average, perceived academic standing and progress, and educational plans were collected by survey and archival review of grade and attendance records at the beginning (pre‐test) and end of the school year (post‐test). Self‐esteem and academic variables differed by gender, race, and guardianship. Self‐esteem related significantly to academics and absenteeism. Results suggest selected academic variables predict self‐esteem even when the effects of gender, race, and guardianship are removed and pretest self‐esteem scores are controlled. In conclusion, student academic performance influences subsequent academic and home self‐esteem. Creation of positive academic experiences for youth may be a critical activity, since experts contend that low self‐esteem is associated with subsequent behavioral problems. The markedly lower self‐esteem of Native American and Hispanic youth warrants further investigation.