Effect of Loneliness on Self Esteem of High School Boys and Girls

Abstract

The present study attempts to examine the effect of loneliness on self esteem of high school boys and girls, and to see if there is any gender difference existing in the  feeling of loneliness  and level of self esteem among high school boys and girls. The sample for the study comprised of 120 high school students, out of which 60 were boys and 60 were girls between the age range of 11 to 14 years. Test materials used to assess loneliness and self esteem among high school boys and girls are Daniel W.Russell’s UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3)  and Self Esteem Inventory, the school short form developed by Coopersmith, 1967. Obtained data is analyzed by using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and T-test. Results revealed that that there is a significant relationship between feeling of loneliness and level of self esteem among high school boys. Where as for the high school girls there is found to be no significant relationship between feeling of loneliness and level of self esteem. With respect to finding the gender difference in feeling of loneliness it is seen that there is no significant difference among high school boys and girls. Similarly the findings for gender difference in the level of self esteem it is seen that there is no significant difference among high school boys and girls.