PREDICTORS OF SELF-ESTEEM AMONG UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE GOING STUDENTS

Abstract

During the transition phase from school to college, especially when getting relocated to a new place, college students fight with a lot of difficulties and challenges that can affect their self- esteem. This in turn can lead to an increase in the possibilities of mental and physical health issues in the future. The aim of the study was to examine the potential predictors of self-esteem as body image, fear of negative evaluation and perfectionism and to investigate gender differences in the same among undergraduates’ males and females. There was a total of 100 undergraduates from different colleges in the Tricity, out of which 50 were males and 50 were females. Self-administered questionnaires were used for the study. Fear of negative appearance evaluation, subscales of perfectionism (discrepancy and standard) came out to be significant predictors of self-esteem. No significant gender differences were found for males and females on self-esteem, body image, perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation. There was a significant and positive relationship between self-esteem and body surveillance and control beliefs and a significant negative relationship between self-esteem and fear of negative appearance evaluation and discrepancy among females. While in males’ self-esteem had a significant and positive relationship with body surveillance and negative and significant relationship between self-esteem and discrepancy and fear of negative appearance evaluation.