title: Self-esteem matters: racial & gender differences among rural southern adolescents.
abstract: Self-esteem does matter! It matters so much that Oprah dedicated an entire issue of "O" magazine to address the subject. "It's a woman's most treasured possession" (Winfrey, 2000a). Self-esteem has a profound influence on adolescent health promotion behaviors. This study contributes to understanding the role self-esteem plays in the behavior of adolescents. Utilizing a secondary data analysis, race and gender self-esteem differences among adolescents were investigated. The sample of 1,237 students (46% African-American and 52% White) from rural southern areas consisted of 744 females and 493 males. Self-esteem was assessed using the Miller Self-esteem Questionnaire (SEQ). The Hendricks Perceptual Health Promoting Determinants Model (HPHD) provided the theoretical framework for the study. The results of the study revealed a statistically significant difference in various aspects of self-esteem according to race and gender. African-Americans and males had a higher self-esteem which is consistent with many prior studies.
authors.affiliation: Southern University and A & M College, School of Nursing, P.O. Box 11784, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, USA. constancehendricks@suson,subr.edu
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Harter
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: L'Ecuyer
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Geddings
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mathis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology