ABSTRACT
Self-esteem is considered as an important and integral factors in the growthand actualization of human beings. Since the level of self-esteem is very critical in mental health, clinical and social psychologists focus considerably on it. This quasi-experimental study was conducted to determine the effects of personal growth group on self-esteem of nursing students in Shaheed Beheshti Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. 10 students between 18 - 25 were selected based on individual interview and their self-esteem grades. The Cooper Smith Self-esteem Questionnaire was used for data collection. The program consisted of 8 sessions, each lasted 2 hours two times a week. At the beginning and at the end of the 8 sessions, student group was asked to complete the questionnaire. A 2 - month follow - up evaluation was performed using the same tool. Mean self-esteem grade was at the beginning 30.62 [SD = 4.38] and 44.5 [SD = 3.16] at the end, and after follow-up, was 42.25 [SD = 5.58]. Descriptive and analytical statistics [Sign Test] was used. Results indicated that there was a significant increase in self - esteem grades before and after the program [P= 0.008], as well as before and after follow-up [P= 0.016]. There was no significant difference between the grades after and at follow- up. The findings revealed that Personal growth group had positive effects on self-esteem of nursing students