Influence of gender and socioeconomic status on self-esteem of adolescent students

ABSTRACT

The purpose of present study is to explore the effects of gender and socioeconomic status on the self-esteem of adolescent students. The sample of the present research was consisted of 450 [225 males and 225 females] adolescents of ages 16-20 years [mean 18.38]. The sample of the study was selected from different public and private educational settings situated in different areas of Karachi, Pakistan. The measures, which were used in the study, included Demographic data form; and Rosenherg Self-esteem scale. Two-way ANOVA was applied to assess the gender and socioeconomic status differences in self-esteem among adolescents. The results showed that adolescents of lower, middle and upper socioeconomic statuses differed significantly on self-esteem [F [444] =18.85981, p < .01]. Further, there was a significant difference in level of self-esteem of male and female adolescents [F [444]= 23.4486, p<.01]. But interactive effect of gender and socioeconomic status on self-esteem among adolescents was found statistically insignificant [F [444] = 1.411215, p>.05]. It is concluded that the level of self-esteem influenced by SES and gender individually