The Relationship between Social support, Self-esteem and Stress in Elementary School Children

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of social support, self-esteem, and stress in elementary school children.Methods: The data were collected by self-reported questionnaires from 457 5th and 6th graders of four elementary schools located in Jollabuk-do Province, Korea.Subjects were completed the following questionnaires: Social support, self-esteem and Stress.The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients and Stepwise multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 15.0 program.Results: The mean (±SD) scores of Social support, self-esteem and Stress were 3.22 (±0.43), 3.00 (±0.53), and 1.47 (±0.43), respectively.There was a significant negative correlations could be seen in social support (r=-.497, p<.001) as well as self-esteem (r=-.491,p<.001) in relation to stress.The variables of stress in elementary school children were social support and self-esteem which explained 30.0% of the cases.Conclusions: The findings of the study indicated that there is a need to develop and apply nursing intervention to promote social support, self-esteem, and reduce stress in elementary school children.Therefore it is needed to develop nursing intervention programs to promote social support and self-esteem.