Self-esteem and scholastic achievement in thirteen-year-old Maltese pupils

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate self-esteem in Maltese pupils. Therefore, it sought: (i) to set up local norms for the Self-Esteem Inventory (Coopersmith, 1986) for thirteen-year-olds, (ii) to study the relationship between self-esteem and scholastic achievement in thirteen-year-olds, and (iii) to investigate age and sex differences in self-esteem between thirteen- and nine-year-old pupils. The sample consisted of 170 boys and 210 girls attending two Junior Lyceums in 1987-8. Pupils were required to complete a modified version of Coopersmith 's (1967) SEI. Their Annual (June, 1988) Examination scores in Maltese, English, Maths and Integrated Science were recorded. Results regarding thirteen-year-olds revealed a significant relationship between 'Total Self-Esteem', 'Home-Parents' and achievement grades in each of the four listed subjects. Correlations between the 'School-Academic' subscale and achievement tended to be higher, and occurred at a higher frequency than correlations between 'General-Self' and achievement. No relationship was found between 'Social Self-Peers' and achievement. Results also showed that self-esteem decreased with age. Thirteen- and nine-year-old boys had a higher self-esteem than the girls in the same two age-groups.