Self-esteem and Academic Performance Relationship Amongst the Second Year Undergraduate Students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Campus

Abstract

A cross sectional study was carried out to examine the relationship between self –esteem and student's academic performance among the second year undergraduates of Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, UKM session 2010/2011. Undergraduates (n= 220, 110 males) were selected via systemic random sampling, responded on survey domains regarding their self-esteem, body area satisfaction, stress and demographic data using 3 scales – Rosernberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Body Area Satisfaction Scale (BASS). The study has found that the mean score for self-esteem scales was 17.44±3.44 with score ranged from 0 to 30 (RSES); the mean of CGPA was 3.022±0.41. The correlation between self esteem and academic performance were analyzed using Pearson's correlation and linear regression, results showed that students with higher self-esteem perform better in their academic (p< 0.0005, r=0.32); self esteem score and body area satisfaction was significant (p< 0.05, r=0.016) and self esteem and stress is inversely significant (p< 0.05, r=-0.198). In conclusion, self-esteem is one of the key factors in affecting an individual's academic performance, more significant than other contributing factors including stress and body image.