Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate and analyze the status and influential factors of gender equality awareness, self-esteem, and subjective well-being in school-age boys and girls. The results can help schools and teachers provide more effective gender equality and mental health education. In the study, 284 valid questionnaires were collected from a total of 323 school-age boys and girls in the Hunan Province, China (effective response rate of 87.93%). The questionnaire covered gender equality awareness, self-esteem, and subjective well-being, with the influencing factors analyzed through multiple linear regression. There was a significant correlation among children’s gender equality awareness in all areas examined (family, occupation, and school), with both boys and girls having the lowest awareness of gender equality in occupational fields. The children’s self-esteem and subjective well-being were significantly correlated as well. Gender equality awareness, self-esteem, and subjective well-being among boys and girls reflected different influential factors. Androgynous traits (neither feminine nor masculine) were conducive to the development of gender equality awareness and self-esteem among the children. Therefore, schools and teachers need to provide gender equality and mental health education according to the specific psychological characteristics of each boy and girl.
Highlights
Many studies have found that there are significant differences in gender equality awareness and mental health among different genders (Tennant et al, 2007; Tang et al, 2011)
Significant differences in self-esteem and subjective well-being among school-age children of different genders have been found (Zhang, 2004, 2012; Savoye et al, 2015)
This study aims to fill this gap by providing theoretical and educational guidance for education and intervention in schools through the investigation and analysis of gender differences in school-age children’s gender equality awareness, self-esteem, and subjective well-being in China
Summary
Many studies have found that there are significant differences in gender equality awareness and mental health among different genders (Tennant et al, 2007; Tang et al, 2011). Men usually have lower gender equality awareness (Tang et al, 2011), whereas women usually have lower mental health (Tennant et al, 2007). As an important part of a healthy personality, self-esteem can affect both positive and negative psychological states of an individual (NartovaBochaver et al, 2019) It is regarded as an important measure of mental health (Jin, 2014). Subjective well-being is a comprehensive evaluation of personal life according to subjective standards, which combine emotional experiences with life satisfaction (Wang, 2021), and is significantly correlated with 24 positive personality traits such as love and gratitude (Zhou and Liu, 2011) This is the most common positive psychological experience related to mental health (Derdikman-Eiron et al, 2011). Men generally have higher self-esteem and subjective well-being than women, especially in areas with high gender equality (Derdikman-Eiron et al, 2011; Schmitt et al, 2017)
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