Academic self-esteem and its relationship to practicing extracurricular activities among university students

Abstract

This research aims at determining the level of academic self-esteem among female university students and identifying the differences between students practicing and not practicing extracurricular activities in their academic self-esteem level. A group of two hundred female university students of different academic levels and disciplines (kindergarten, special education, computer sciences, home economics, Arabic language, and Islamic Studies) was selected after applying the form of practicing extracurricular activities. For data collection, the academic self-esteem scale was applied to them. Results revealed a low level of academic self-esteem among the research sample and a low level of practicing extracurricular activities. Besides, results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of both students practicing and not-practicing extracurricular activities in their academic self-esteem in general and in its three dimensions (awareness of academic capabilities, academic self-image, and expectations of academic success and failure). Research results were discussed in light of the previous related literature and further research suggestions were provided to researchers and stakeholders. Keywords: academic self-esteem, extracurricular activities