Self Esteem, Absenteeism, Academic Performance and Stress: A Quantitative Study of Grades 6-9 Students in a High Index School

Sammanfattning: School absenteeism is today a worldwide phenomenon linked to a plethora of issues with long term consequences on both individuals and society, such as stress, social exclusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem and even drug abuse. This study investigates the interrelationship between global self-esteem and competence-based self-esteem (CBSE), absenteeism and academic performance as well as stress concerning students in grades 6–9 undergoing school in a socioeconomic vulnerable area. The objectives in this study were attained using a quantitative survey methodology with cross sectional correlational design, with the total sample consisting of 24 participants. The results showed neither correlation between scores on self-esteem and absenteeism nor academic performance. Conversely, significant negative correlation was observed between absenteeism and academic performance which added to strengthens previous research findings. In investigating Group differences, the high CBSE’s group were significantly more prone to absenteeism than those in the low CBSE’s group. Further in the exploration of stress impact, students reporting stress-association had significantly higher absenteeism occasions and scores on CBSE as compared with those without. Those not associating their absence with stress showed significantly higher global self-esteem. The results suggest that stress is a relevant factor in evaluating absenteeism and by extension, academic performance.