Autoestima y relaciones interpersonales en jóvenes estudiantes de primer semestre de la División Salud de la Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia) / Self esteem and interpersonal relationships among freshmen in the collage of Health Science at Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia)

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the influence of self-esteem (self-concept, self-respect and selfbelief)and interpersonal relationships among freshmen in the College of health science atthe University of North, Barranquilla.Methodology: This is a descriptive study with a sample of 100 freshmen from the school ofMedicine and Nursing. The study used a self-developed questionnaire and the 16 PF test ofpersonality. The variables in study were demographic information, self-esteem (measuresof self-concept, self-respect, and self-belief) and affectoniate.Results: The demographics show that the average age of the sample was eighteen and ahalf years old, 71 percent of the sample were females and 29 percent were males. The results indicatedthat 73percent of the sample presented an adequate self-concept, while the remaining percentageof the sample presented an inadequate self-concept. In regards to the measure of self-belief,81percent presented an adequate self-belief, and the 19percent of self-belief was inadequate. Moreover,the 82percent of the sample presented adequate affectoniate while the 18percent was inadequate.The poor self-concept, self-respect and self-belief appear to be associated with inadequateinterpersonal relationships (p<0.05). The report of the student’s negative conception ofhis/her interpersonal relationships was of valuable significance as it allowed to identify ahigh-risk factor early in college.Conclusions: The majority of freshmen had an adequate self-esteem and interpersonalrelationships. Further, the study determine that, even the small percentage of reportedinadequate self-esteem and interpersonal relationships, there is a need of a multidisciplinaryintervention early in college to protect against misleading conducts of the student’s totalhealth.