Effect of Self Esteem on Psychological Wellness Among Adolescent Students in Nairobi: A Case of Hillcrest International School

Abstract

Developing high self-esteem and avoiding low self-esteem are commonly seen as critical social goals, especially among adolescents. Despite this, institutions are yet to develop and implement psychological wellness programs that promote adolescent students' well-being. Therefore, this study sought to examine the effect of self-esteem on psychological wellness among adolescent students in a case study of Hillcrest international school, in Nairobi, Kenya. The study was guided by objectives that sought to evaluate the effect of high, moderate and low self-esteem on the psychological wellness of adolescent students in Hillcrest international school in Nairobi, Kenya. Self-determination and Sociometer theories guided the study. A descriptive cross-sectional study approach was employed in the research. The targeted population was 570 adolescent high school students in Hillcrest international school in Nairobi, Kenya. The researcher sampled 235 high school students through the random sampling method. Data was gathered through the use of questionnaires and interviews. To measure the level of self-esteem of the respondents, the researcher utilized the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, to measure the psychological wellness of the participants, the study used Ryff’s PWB scale. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to find the relationship between self-esteem and psychological wellness. The findings indicated a significant positive correlation (r = 0.169 p = 0.831) between high self-esteem and psychological wellness, indicating a positive relationship. Consequently, a significant positive correlation (r = 0.973, p = 0.027) was established between moderate self-esteem and psychological wellness, indicating a positive relationship. On the relationship between low-self esteem and psychological wellness, the findings (r = -0.457 p = 0.543) indicated a significant negative correlation between low-esteem and psychological wellness. Themes established from the interviews were consistent with the quantitative findings. Therefore, the findings of the study established that there is a significant relationship between the different levels of self-esteem and psychological wellness, with high and moderate selfesteem impacting the psychological wellbeing of the respondents positively and low selfesteem impacting the psychological wellbeing of the respondents negatively. Heads of learning institutions and the Ministry of Education may benefit from the findings of this study to propose methods to improve the psychological well-being of adolescent students