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Self-esteem and optimism in rural youth: gender differences
Kathryn R Puskar1, Lisa Marie Bernardo, Dianxu Ren
1University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Contemporary Nurse
|June 1, 2010
Summary
Rural adolescent females reported lower self-esteem and optimism than males. This highlights a need for targeted nursing interventions to support mental well-being in young women.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent psychology
- Gender studies
- Mental health research
Background:
- Self-esteem and optimism are linked to health, social interaction, and identity.
- Limited research exists on gender differences in adolescent self-esteem and optimism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender-specific disparities in self-esteem and optimism among rural adolescents.
- To provide data for developing targeted interventions.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey design with 193 high school students in rural Pennsylvania.
- Utilized the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R).
Main Results:
- Female adolescents scored significantly lower than males on both self-esteem (p < 0.0001) and optimism (p < 0.0001).
- Mean scores for both self-esteem and optimism were within the average range for the study population.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a need for focused attention on the self-esteem and optimism of female adolescents.
- Results have implications for evidence-based nursing interventions aimed at improving adolescent mental well-being.
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