Self-Esteem of Elementary and Middle School Children

The purpose of the researcher was to investigate factors associated with the self-esteem of fourth and seventh graders. The sample consisted of 460 students. The independent variables were gender, grade level, race, socioeconomic status, and family structure. The dependent variable was scores from the Personal Attribute Inventory for Children. The researcher tested 5 composite null hypotheses at the .05 level of significance. Each composite null hypothesis was tested with the three-way analysis of variance (general linear model). A total of 18 comparisons were made plus 17 recurring. Of the 18 comparisons 5 were for main effects and 13 were for interactions. Of the 5 main effects 2 were statistically significant at the .05 level. The following main effects were statistically significant: 1. Grade level for the dependent variable self-esteem, and 2. Family structure for the dependent variable self-esteem. Of the 13 interactions 1 was statistically significant at the .05 level. The statistically significant interaction was for the independent variables grade level and socioeconomic status and the dependent variable self-esteem. The results of the present study appeared to support the following generalizations: 1. Students living with both biological parents have greater self-esteem than those living in other family structure, 2. Grade level and socioeconomic status should be interpreted concurrently, 3. No association between gender and self-esteem, and 4. No association between race and self-esteem.