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

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate self-esteem in Maltese pupils. For this purpose it sought: (a) to setup local norms for Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory (Coopersmith,1967), for nine-year old children, (b) to study the relationship between self-esteem and academic achievement in nine-year olds, and (c) to investigate age and sex differences in self-esteem between nine- and eleven-year olds. The sample consisted of 399 nine-year old pupils attending Year 4 in four, primary, mixed, state schools. There were 191 boys and 208 girls. The pupils were required to fill in the modified version of the Coopersmith SEI (Coopersmith,1967). Scores in Maltese, English, Mathematics and Social Studies; of the Annual Examinations held in 1988, were then recorded. Results indicated that self-esteem decreased with age; girls had a higher self-esteem than boys. A significant relationship was found between 'Total Self-Esteem' and achievement, while no relationship was found between 'Social Self Peers' and achievement.