Communication as a Powerful Tool for diminishing low self-esteem among

students of Bachelor of Secondary Education 1-4

INTRODUCTION

Some students lose their self-esteem when they have encountered a bad

experience from their past. They lose their self-confidence and begun to work alone

rather than work in a group that judge them.

Duari (2012) defined self-esteem as "the feeling at the center of your being of

self-worth, self-confidence, and self-respect." Ackerman (2019) defined self-esteem

that "It can be considered a sort of measure of how much a person 'values, approves

of, appreciates, prizes, or likes him or herself.'" Having a low self-esteem can reduce

the quality of a person's life including negative feelings, relationship problems, fear

of trying, perfectionism, fear of judgement, low resilience, lack of self-care and self-

harming behaviors. (Ackerman,2019)

Guindon(2002) asked school counsellors to list five characteristics that best

describe students with low self-esteem. And the most common is having a poor

communication. And for this reason, the researchers wanted to find ways on how to

overcome low self-esteem among students through communication.

Statement of the Problem

The researchers aims to find answers on how to overcome low self-esteem

through communication by answering the following questions:

1. What are the reason/s why you are having a low self-esteem?
2. What are the effect/s of having a low self-esteem in your way of communicating to

other people?

3. Why do you think communication can diminish low self-esteem?

METHODOLOGY

Research design

The researchers used Phenomenology as their research design. Wherein the topic

low self-esteem is a daily experience among students which falls into

Phenomenology. Phenomenology is a research design that talks about daily

experiences of people or people have the same experiences. For example, people

who have a part time jobs. In this case, the researchers picked their participants

whom they thought have a low self-esteem.

Source of Data

The study was conducted at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

and the participants were the first year students section 4 of Bachelor of Secondary

Education S.Y. 2018-2019.

Instrumentation and Data Collections

The researchers gathered their data through the usage of interview guide and

audio recording. The researchers formulated first their questions and after that was

validated, they interviewed those students who they thought have low self-esteem.
The researchers used purposive sampling to choose their participants. The

researchers choose those students who could correspond to objectives of their study,

like selecting those with rich experience or interest in their study.

Analysis of Data

After the data was gathered, the researchers tallied the most common answer in

each question. Then after that, the researchers analyzed and interpreted it based on

the related findings of some articles and researches which they searched on the

internet.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Discussion 1: Reasons of having low self-esteem

After interviewing the participants, the researchers gathered the most common

answer. The researchers found that six (6) out of eight (8) participants answered that

the reason behind having a low self-esteem is because of judgemental society. The

participants are afraid to be judged and that is connected to poor academic

performance in school resulting in a lack of confidence (Ackerman,2019). Participant

A answered, "I think when I say something or going to recite, they will judge me or

questioning me a lot of questions." And this is connected to an article about the

reason of having a low self-esteem. On that article, it stated that poor academic

performance in school resulting why one is having a low self-esteem. According to

an article, negative feelings, fear of trying and fear of judgement (Ackerman,2019) is

one of the many causes of low self-esteem.

Discussion 2: Effects of having a low self-esteem in their way of communicating

to other people

All of the participants answered that the effect/s of having a low self-esteem on

the way of communicating to other people is low. The participants answered that they

cannot express themselves to others, and they lose the confidence to communicate.

According to Silverstone and Salsali (2003), low self-esteem has been shown to be

correlated with a number of negative outcomes, such as depression. And based on

Rosenberg and Owen (2001), people with low self-esteem are more troubled by

failure and tend to exaggerate events as being negative. People are difficult to

interact to other people. They feel awkward and shy whenever they make social

interact. The researchers conclude that having a low self-esteem gives a great impact

to the students in their performance. Not only in their performance, but also

difficulties for them to have an interaction to others.

Discussion 3: Communication as a powerful tool to diminish low self-esteem

All of the participants answered that communication is a way to practice and

build your self-confidence. The participants also mentioned that socializing and

enhance their confidence . One of the participant also answered that "the more you

communicate or socialize with others, it will boost your self-esteem, get engaged

often to communication, it will get used to it and sooner or later, I'll have a higher
self-esteem, deal with others and talk, talk, talk." According to Psychologist,

individuals who suffer from some type of insecurity or lack of self-esteem also suffer

from poor communication abilities. It is believed that inadequate communication

between child and adult or between siblings can lead to the inability to verbally

communicate with strangers. As what participants response to the researchers, it is

more likely to be with your own style or technique on how you can deliver or

overcome your self-esteem when it comes to communicating. According to a 2005

study published in "Cerber Psychology and Behavior", People with low self-esteem

are most likely to misrepresent themselves online. Another study published in the

"Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication" in (2008) found that some people

with low self-esteem was the Internet as a way to compensate . These people may try

to become "popular" online, which means the internet can help serve as an alternative

communication channel for people who struggle with in-person communication and

it is their possible way to diminish themselves in low self-esteem through

communication.

RECOMMENDATIONS

After the interpretation of the data which were collected, the researchers were

finally able to give the recommendations to the study.

1. The researchers recommend to the future researchers to have a further

research about the effect of having a low self-esteem to academic performance of a

student.
 2. The researchers recommend to the future researchers to have a research on

what age does low self-esteem occurs the most.

3. The researchers recommend to the future researchers to have a research on

what sex does low self-esteem occurs the most.

REFERENCES

Ackerman, C. E.(2019). What is self-esteem? A Psychologist Explains. Retrieved

from

https://positivepsychology.com/self-esteem/

Adler, N., & Stewart, J. (2004). Self-esteem. Psychosocial Working Group. Retrieved

from http://www.macses.ucsf.edu/research/psychosocial/selfesteem.php

Duari, P. (2012). Importance of Self Esteem among Students in Academic

Performance

and Coping with Stress. Retrieved from

https://questia.com/library/journal/1P3-3465849051/importance-of-self-esteem-

mong-students-in-academic
Guindon, M. H. (2002) Toward Accountability in the use of the Self-Esteem

Construct.

Journal of Counseling & Development, 80(2), 204-214.

Rosenberg, M., & Owens, T. J. (2001). Low self-esteem people: A Collective

Portrait.

In T. J. Owens. S. Stryker, & N. Goodmanm (Eds.), Extending self-esteem

theory

and research (pp. 400-436). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Silverstone, P. H., & Salsali, M. (2003). Low self-esteem and psychiatric patients:

Part

I- The relationship between low self-esteem and psychiatric diagnosis. Annals of

General Psychiatry, 2(1), 2. Retrieved from https://annals-general-

psychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2832-2-2

Researchers

Madrid, Erika Mae Q.

Mendoza, Tricia

Paragas, Rogelyn T.

BSE 1-4