The relationship of self-esteem to selected personal and environmental resources of adolescents.
This study examined the relationship of selected variables to self-esteem among 648 high school and college students. Multiple regression analyses, with self-esteem as the dependent variable, were computed separately for both males and females from small and large schools. Predictor variables were sex role orientation (masculinity/femininity); attitudes toward women's roles in society; high school activity participation; high school athletic participation; employment practices of students; and parents' education, occupational, and marital status. For all four groups, higher masculinity scores and greater levels of activity participation were significantly related to self-esteem. As predicted, however, there were differences in the regression equations as a function of school size. For males in small schools, but not in large schools, athletic participation was a significant predictor of self-esteem. For females in small schools, but not in large schools, more nontraditional or egalitarian attitudes toward women were related to higher self-esteem scores. Only masculinity and activity participation were significant predictors of self-esteem for both males and females in large schools. The implications of these results for the understanding of adolescent development are discussed.
Holland
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College of Education, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-3180.
Andre
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D000293:Adolescent; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities