Adolescent Self-Esteem in Selected Schools in Accra, Ghana: Examining Prevalence and Socio-Demographic Determinants

Abstract

Self-esteem is a fundamental developmental need that can significantly influence academic success, peer interaction, long-term mental outcomes, and future accomplishments of adolescents. Using a descriptive research design, and purposive sampling, the influence of socio-demographic variables, including age, gender, living conditions and number of relatives, on the self-esteem levels of 416 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 years in selected schools within the Krowur Municipality, Accra, Ghana was evaluated using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Overall, 37.8% (157) of the adolescents exhibited low self-esteem, which is higher than 1/3 of the entire respondents. Results from the study revealed that self-esteem was dependent on adolescent age, in which early adolescents were found to have high self-esteem compared to those in their mid-adolescence. Furthermore, the adolescent males showed high esteem levels with a prevalence of 33.7% compared to their female (25.6%) counterparts. Adolescents living with their mothers alone exhibited a higher prevalence of low self-esteem (46.3%), which is attributed to the stigma associated with the absence of fathers among adolescents in the Krowur Municipality. Gender and age were statistically significant determinants of self-esteem (p<0.002 and p<0.016 respectively). Thus, females were more likely to report low self-esteem and also low self-esteem increased with age. The results of this study can be used to guide the development of school and community-based programs aimed at enhancing self-esteem among adolescents in low-income countries.