FAMILY CORRELATES OF SELF-ESTEEM IN ADOLESCENCE

IMPLICATION FOR ADOLESCENT COUNSELLING

Abstract

Self-esteem is conceptualized as the evaluative aspect of a person that weighs individual beliefs of self-worth, self-acceptance, self-respect and self-satisfaction in relation to others around them which manifests as high or low self-esteem. This study aimed to examine the contributions of the family measured as family relationship and parental verbal abuse, to the expression of self-esteem in adolescence. Four hypotheses were postulated and tested. Three hundred (157 male and 143 female) adolescent secondary school students in Port Harcourt, Rivers State were selected using purposive sampling technique to participate in this study. The participants’ ages ranged from 9- 17 years (M=13.5, STD= 3.03). Three instruments Hare Self-esteem Scale, Index of Family Relationship Scale, and Parent’s verbal abuse inventory were used to assess the participants in cross-sectional survey design, while data was analysed with multiple regression statistics on SPSS vs 21. Findings indicated that unlike sex, poor family relationship and high parental verbal abuse significantly predicted low self-esteem in adolescence. This result shows interpersonal relationships within the family have great import on adolescents’ ability to express healthy self-esteem. The study recommends mandatory self-esteem enhancement counselling for adolescents before the completion of secondary school education.