Gender Difference on Self Esteem among

Undergraduate Students
*Ansu Elizabeth Tom and **Dr.Vidhya Ravindranadan

ABSTRACT
Self-esteem is defined as a positive or negative reflection that a person has for
himself/herself and the belief of being able to cope with the basic challenges
of life. Self esteem reflects a person’s over all subjective emotional evaluation
of own worth. It is a weighing up of one’s own attitude of one self. The
objective of this study is to understand the gender difference on self esteem
among undergraduate students. Sample consisted of 120 students, involving
60 males and 60 females, equally drawn from 2 nd year and 3rd year
undergraduate courses drawn from arts and science colleges of Ernakulum
District, Kerala. They belong to the age group of 19-21 years, equally drawn
from urban and rural areas. The instrument used for the study is Rosenberg’s
self- esteem scale (RSES) developed by Dr. Morris Rosenberg. The data were
analysed using SPSS. t-test has been conducted to find out the mean
difference between the groups on self esteem. From the results it can be seen
that gender difference on self esteem is statistically different at 0.01 level. The
mean difference between urban and rural students was also found statistically
significant.

Keywords: Gender, Self Esteem, Emerging Adulthood

*Ansu Elizabeth Tom **Dr.Vidhya Ravindranadan

B.Sc. Psychology Assistant Professor of Psychology

Union Christian College, Aluva Union Christian College, Aluva, Kerala.

vidhyaravindranadan@uccollege.edu.in
INTRODUCTION

Self-esteem is a generalised evaluation attitude towards the self that influences both
moods and behaviour and that extracts a powerful effect on a range of personal and social
behaviours (APA, 2000). Self-esteem is an essential part of psychological survival. One of
the main factors that differentiating humans from animals is the awareness of self: to form an
identity and then attach a value to it. This is used to describe a person’s overall sense of self-
worth or self-value. Self-esteem is often seen as a personality trait, which means that it tends
to be stable and enduring. It can involve a variety of believes about the self, such as the
appraisal about one’s own appearance, believes, emotions and behaviour. Self esteem
encompasses beliefs and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame. Self esteem is a
very important factor that determines an individual’s personality. Emerging adulthood is
extremely important stage in building up one’s own identity and esteem.

Healthy self-esteem is based on ability to assess ourselves accurately and still be

accepting to who we are. There are different domains in self-esteem. This effects self-esteem
and how it grows in an adolescent.

 Physical appearance: Appearance is more important to girls’ self-esteem than to boys’,

with body image a strong predictor of global self-esteem in ladies compared to men
(Allgood-Merten, Lewinsohn, & Hops (1990)). In teen years girls’ self-esteem is more
vulnerable than boys because they are more concerned about their bodies. This if not
corrected may lead in adulthood and may cause the lady to lose more weight.
 Athletics: Even among children who play sports boys’ tend to have more athletes self-
esteem. They believe they are more competitive. Theoretical models support that males
will score more in athletic self-esteem than on females.
 Academics: Females prepare more and perform better academically and receive better
grades than their male peers (Pomerantz, Altermatt, & Saxon (2002).). But this is not
always true, when boys’ outperform girls’ the lady self-esteem suffers but when females
perform at a higher level their self-esteem does not increase. Even in gifted children it is
seen that girls’ outperform boys’.
 Social Acceptance: friendships, social relationships and peer relations ships are very
important to build self-esteem.
 Family: the family can play a major role in the development of self-esteem and can help
in affirming a child’s worth.
 Personal Self: it is one’s own evaluation about one self apart from the physical body and
relationship with others.

Studies show that there is difference in self-esteem between males and females during
adolescence. The most common difference is that males tend to have a higher self-esteem
through the teen age years and continue into adulthood. Generally speaking, when it tends to
drop, male’s self-esteem will not drop as low as female self-esteem, and a males positive
feelings about self are likely to be much more stronger than female self-esteem (Robins
et.al.2002). Recent mete-analysis and studies, however, have found that male adolescents and
young adults have higher self esteem than their female counter parts, although the difference
is relatively small (Bachman et al. 2011; Feingold 1994; Kling et al. 1999; Robins et al.
2002).

Emerging adulthood is a phase between adolescence and full-fledge adulthood which

encompasses late adolescence and early adulthood (Arnett 2000). Arnett suggest emerging
adulthood is the distinct period between 18 to 25 years of age where they explore various
possibilities of life. The environment or the place of residence in which they raised
contribute profoundly to the development of self-esteem, which includes school, home,
neighbourhood, church etc.

Objective

To verify gender difference on self-esteem among under graduate students.

Hypothesis

1. There will be significant gender difference on self- esteem among undergraduate

students.
2. There will be significant mean difference on self- esteem on the basis of place of
residence.
3. There will be significant mean difference on self- esteem on the basis of year of study.

METHOD

Sample of the study consisted of 120 students, 60 males and 60 females, equally
drawn from 2nd year and 3rd year undergraduate courses of arts and science colleges of
Ernakulum District, Kerala. They belong to the age group of 19-21 years. The participants
from Urban/Rural areas were equally included in the study.

The instrument used for the study is Rosenberg’s self- esteem scale (RSES) developed
by Dr. Morris Rosenberg. It measures both the positive and negative feelings about the self.
This is the most widely used scale to measure global self-esteem. All items are answered
using a 4 point Likert scale format ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The
Rosenberg self-esteem scale presented high ratings in reliability areas and is closely
connected with the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory.

Data was analysed using SPSS. t-test has been done to find out the mean difference
on self esteem between the male and female under graduate student.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

In the present study the investigator has made an attempt to explore gender difference
on self-esteem among under graduate students. The data obtained from the respondents were
scored appropriately and analysed to draw a meaningful inference on the obtained data.

The scores of self esteem were analysed using the t-test to see if there is any
considerable mean difference on the gender basis. The results are given in Table1.1.
 Table No 1.1: t-test on Gender difference and Self-esteem

Gender N Mean Std. Deviation t-value

Male 60 18.13 4.413 2.594**

Female 60 20.23 4.455

** Significant at 0.01 level

The results given in the table indicate that there is significant gender difference on self
esteem. It is also seen that adolescent girls seem to have higher self-esteem than boys. It is
during this period of development, adolescent girls mainly build their self-esteem and self-
concept. During late adolescence and early adulthood girls tend to develop a sense of self. In
accordance to the culture it might be possible that girls to have a higher level of self-esteem.
They seem to be highly confident about their appearance and the way they carry themselves.
This result might be also due to the high maturity level of girls.

Researches show that there are quite a number of reasons to feel this way. Girls seem
to perform academically higher and this may also cause a rise in self esteem. They also are
seem to have a sense of accomplishment and are able to do things better than the rest. Boys
on the other hand may feel inadequate in many areas. At this age, it is a time when young
men try to find their way and create their identity. It is when they do not get such a chance
and do not get the kind of respect and acceptance from the society that they feel negatively
motivated and a decrease in the level of self-esteem.

t-test has been done in order to find if there is any considerable difference on self esteem in
accordance with the residential area of the sample. The results are given in table 1.2.

Table No. 1.2: t-test on Residential area and self-esteem

Residence N Mean Std. Deviation t-value

Rural 79 19.96 4.354 2.675**

Urban 41 17.68 4.563

** significant at 0.01 level

The environmental conditions and the surroundings that we live in contribute a major
role in our self-esteem. It is seen in the above table that the sample residing in the rural area
has higher level of self-esteem than those from urban areas. This may be due to the life style
difference in rural and urban residence. People residing in the rural areas seem to be having a
higher level of self-esteem. There may be many factors to contribute to this finding. Facing
the realities of life and getting to engage in daily life activities may be a cause. Nowadays
living in the rural population is not as difficult as it used to be. People are average on socio
economic status and are working on a day today basis. Modern gadgets are on a hike with the
rural community. Those who belong to rural area are more effective and efficient in dealing
with the opportunities and resources. This in turn helps them in being independent and
developing a higher self-esteem.

The result can also be assigned due to the impaired social interaction opportunities of urban
residents comparatively. t-test has been conducted to find out the difference in self esteem
between 2nd and 3rd year undergraduates. . The table 1.3 shows the results.

Table No. 1.3: Result of t-test on self- esteem and year of study

YEAR N Mean Std. Deviation t-value

3rd year 60 19.30 4.742

0.280
2nd year 60 19.07 4.364

From the table it is evident that there exists no significant difference between 2nd and
3rd year undergraduate students selected for the study. Since they belong to the age group of
19-21 years, there is not much difference in their self-esteem. They may have a different
perspective on the view of ideas but generally have the same level of self-esteem.

Hypothesis 1 is accepted as it is found that there exists a significant mean difference

between the two groups on self-esteem. Hypothesis 2 is also accepted as the mean difference
is significant. Hypothesis 3 is rejected as it was found that the mean difference is not
significant.

CONCLUSION

The present study focuses on whether there exists any gender difference on self-
esteem among undergraduate students. Factors like the residential area and year of study of
the participant is also taken into account. Findings of this study suggest that, gender
difference on self-esteem among undergraduate students is significant. There is a
considerable difference as girls stand high in self esteem. There is also significant difference
in self esteem among students who live in the rural and urban areas. Children from the rural
areas have a higher self-esteem. It is also seen that there is no significant mean difference
between 2nd and 3rd year students.
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