The Predicting effect of Self-Esteem and Gender on Youth’s Happiness

Falguni Verma^1*and Meeta Jha¹

¹ Psychometrics laboratory, School of Studies in Psychology, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.

falguniverma1993@gmail.com

Abstract:

Happiness has been researched over time and still is the subject of many studies; in this case, youth’s happiness is more important because in higher education at present youths are covered with complex issues more than at any other time. The main objective of the study is to predict the effect of self-esteem and gender on youth’s happiness. Data were collected from 100 youths (age range 17-26 years) studying in various colleges in Raipur, Chhattisgarh by using the Happiness Scale, and Self-esteem Scale. 50 subjects were male and the remaining 50 were female. SPSS version 22.0 was used for prediction analyses. The majority of youths (87%) had a high level of happiness; while above average (59%) had a moderate level of self-esteem. Findings revealed thatself-esteem has been discovered to be a strong predictor of happiness, while gender does not. Self-esteem improvement will help in the reduction of mental health problems in youth.  Limitations, future directions, and implications were discussed.

Keywords: Happiness, self-esteem, youth, gender

Introduction:

At present in higher education youths are engulfed with complex issues more than at any other time. While the stage is viewed as a phase of conversion from childhood reliance to adulthood independence, many people have failed the adulthood independence test. (World Programme of Action for Youth, 2007). As a result, youth as a category is more variable than other established age groupings. Yet, when it comes to education and work, age is the easiest way to categorize this group, because 'youth' is commonly used to refer to a person between the ages of finishing mandatory education and getting first job (Mpaata, 2017).

What is happiness and self esteem?

Happiness is the ultimate objective of human beings, according to Abdel-Khalek (2005), and everyone strives and wishes to be happy. Happiness, like the tools and methods for reaching it, has various meanings for different people. As a result, human happiness cannot be definitefor the reason that individuals make their own decisions, which differ from one another.Self-esteem is a person'son the whole positive judgment of themselves and their ability to value themselves. Rosenberg (1965), a pioneer in the study of self-esteem, defined it as an individual's attitude towards themselves that reflects their self-image and self-worth.

Operational definition of happiness and self-esteem:

According to Bhardwaj and Das (2017) happy living is a mode of life which ensures a quality of life to deal effectively in life situation, to enjoy the feeling and actualize his own self and identity. It should contain the following elements: getting along with others (Relationship), helping other to give happiness (Humanity), make better of own self (Self help), closeness with nature (Need) and a continual process of dealing with ones problems, difficulties and overcoming the existing stress, conflicts and frustration that one confronts in satisfying his needs of life (Adjustment). Gerring et al. (2015) defined self-esteem as a set of beliefs about basic nature, distinguishing characteristics, and typical behavior of people.It may have many dimensions of self-image such associal, emotional, academic and physical self-image (Singh &Srivastava, 2004).

Literature Review:

It has found in deferent researches that many factors associated with happiness i.e.self esteem, humour style, locus of control, optimism (Ford et al.,2016), income and gender (Chakraborty et al., 2019). Given that many variables have been shown to connect to one’s experience of happiness, it is likely that self-esteem may contribute to happiness as well. Happiness level of adolescents was low with low self-esteem comparison to those with high self-esteem, according to Reddy et al. (2019), and improving self-esteem will help to decrease mental health difficulties in youngsters. According to Bajaj et al. (2019), the study's findings shed insight on the relationship between emotional stability and self-esteem as it relates to the process of mindfulness-happiness relationship.Satuf et al. (2018) discovered that on one's health, happiness, and self-esteem, occupation satisfaction had a protective influence. Kumar (2017) found insignificant difference in self-esteem across general, and reserved cast categories, and the study indicated that self-esteem is linked to happiness, life satisfaction, and welfare when compared to reviews. Erozkan et al. (2016) discovered that the sub-dimensions of self-esteem initiation, effort, persistence, self-efficacy, and self-confidence have a substantial impact on subjective happiness. While it was discovered that happiness has a moderately substantial positive relationship with self-esteem (Jaisri, 2015).

Some studies proved a strong association of self esteem with happiness. According to Amani (2016), self-esteem in the elderly can predict 42 percent of happiness. It's been proven that self-esteem has a strong link to happiness (Diener, 1984). Positive self-esteem was linked to a superior quality of life and health explored by Kermode & MacLean (2001). According to Baumeister et al. (2003), happiness is strongly linked to self-esteem, furthermore founddespite the data does not establishcausation; they are confident that high level of self-esteem lead better happiness. Banerjee and Das (2020) discovered a link between happiness and self-esteem. Malekiha (2012) discovered a substantial relationship between extroversion and intuition and happiness, and confirmed prior findings that self-esteem was for the most partinfluential direct predictor of happiness.

Along with association with happiness and self esteem some studies show gender differences. Sharma and Venkatesan (2021) found that positive connection of self-esteem with happiness, and that there was no gender differences. According to Hunagund and Hangal (2014) self-efficacy and happiness are positively and strongly associated, and there is no gender difference in happiness. While study of adolescents, Sharma and Gulati (2015) discovered in comparison to their male counterparts, female teenagers reported feeling substantially happier. Wani and Dar (2017) discovered a favourable relationship withself-esteem and happiness, gender is found to be negatively significant connected, but age does not. According to Patel et al. (2018), female student reported higher satisfaction with life comparison to male student. According to Furr (2005) males are more clearly separable than females in both variables.Malik (2013) looked at gender disparities in university students' happiness and self-esteem, and discovered a substantial positive association with happiness and self-esteem. Hill (2015) discovered that comparison to women,men had much higher on self-esteem, and self-esteem was highly linked to subjective satisfaction.

Objectives of the study

The objective of present study is the predicting effect of self esteem and gender on happiness in youth. In this regard, hypotheses have been formulated:

1.     Self esteem would emerge as predictor of happiness.

2.     There would be gender difference in happiness.

Rationale of the Study

However, happiness is widely researched topic even in the Indian context. After reviewed previous research it was observed that in somewhere gender differences and somewhere not, until far most of the study was conducted in adult population, relatively a small number of studies are on youth (Reddy et al., 2019). Furthermore there is no study on happiness in relation to self esteem in youth of central Chhattisgarh in Indian.The present study is an attempt to look at this concept, provide a useful data for future studies in this area, and increase the existing fund of knowledge on the association of self-esteem, and gender on youth's happiness of central Chhattisgarh in Indian.

Material and Methods

Participants: 100 youth (age range 17-26 years) purposively selected studying in various colleges in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. 50 subjects were male and the remaining 50 were female.

Tools: Happiness- Happiness Scale developed by Bhardwaj and Das (2017). This scale consists 28 items. The scale is believed to be uni-dimensional. The scoring of scale is very easy the quantitative analysis is based on the credit score given to each item on the basis likert scale.It has 0.71 to 0.94 reliability, and 0.84 to 0.88 validity.  Self-esteem-Self-esteem Scale by Singh and Srivastava (2004). This scale is based on self-esteem scale originally developed by Eagly and revised by Robinson and Shaver (1973). The scale is uni-dimensional. It uses 5- point scaling. It has split -half reliability 0.86 and test-re test reliability 0.82 and validity 0.89. 

Statistical Analysis: Linear regression used for Statistical analysisof the data. SPSS version 22.0 was used for prediction analyses.

Result and Discussion

The majority of youths (87%) had a high level of happiness; while above average (59%) had a moderate level of self-esteem.

Statistical analyses procedure

All 100 cases were included for data calculation. To examine the predicting effect on criterion multiple regression models were used. Variable entered methods- Criteria: Probability-of-F-to-enter <= .050, Probability-of-F-to-remove >= .100).

Table indicated that, predictors explained 20.20% of the total variances (R²= 0.202, F_{(2, 97)} = 12.288, p<0.01). Self esteem is positively associated with happiness (0.446, p<0.01). However, gender is not significantly associated with happiness (-0.45, p>0.05).

Table: Multiple regression models forprediction effect of self esteem and gender on happiness

** p<0.01

The present study investigated predicting effect of self esteem and gender on happiness in youth. The regression analysis indicatesthat there is significant effectof self esteem on happiness similar findings of Reddy et al. (2019); Bajaj et al. (2019); Satuf et al. (2018); Kumar (2017), and Erozkan et al. (2016), but if we talk about the same sample thenthis is constant result with findings of Bajaj et al. (2019). The result confirmed self esteem is powerful direct predictor of happiness, therefore first hypotheses is accepted.These findings support the result proposed by Malika (2012); Amani (2016); Diener, (1984); Kermode and MacLean (2001); Baumeister et al. (2003), and Banerjee and Das (2020). Self-esteem is the central and influential reason of happiness (Furnham & Cheng, 1997), and principal component of mental health; it has pervasive and powerful impact on human cognition, emotion, motivation, and behaviour (Campbell & Lavallee, 1993). People with high level of self esteem are likely to seek and receive more social support, experience low levels of stress and employ more adaptive coping strategies, which in turn promote good health (Orth, Robins, & Widaman, 2012). Low self esteem is related withserious behavioural problems like maladjustment, suicidal tendencies and also leads to various psychological problems like stress, anxiety loneliness, depression etc. (Bhattacharjee & Deb, 2007; Manani & Sharma, 2013; Leary, 2004).

However, the regression analysis indicates gender is not significantly associated with happiness, therefore second hypotheses is rejected. This means that happiness does not vary in males or female. The finding of Sharma and Venkatesan (2021), and Hunagund and Hangal (2014) support this result that no gender differences in happiness. While contradictory to our result, some studies have also found gender differences on happiness (Sharma and Gulati, 2015; Patel et al., 2018; Furr, 2005; Malik, 2013, and Hill, 2015). Generally happy persons have social, friendly personalities, bright and optimistic view about themselves, their competence and their future. Moreover, they are more vigorous and active and less tendency to be anxious (DeNeve & Cooper, 1998). Malik (2013) stated gender differences in self esteem in which male found higher self esteem than girls due to the traditional and social roles in the society in which boys are given more importance and privileges as compared to girls. In this research it was found that no gender differences in happiness the reason for this result may be equal treatment in traditionally and socially by their society on both genders.

Conclusion

Based on the result of the present study it may concluded that self esteem has a highly impact on happiness, whereas gender does not.Youths who reported high level in self esteem are happier than who had low level in self esteem. This shows that, increasing level of self esteem of the youth reported higher levels of happiness. It was also concluded that gender effect was not found on youth’s happiness.

Limitations and suggestions

Because this was a correlational study in nature, no definite causal inferences should be formed. Small sample size is also a limitation. Despite these limitations, this studymay be considered to have added to our understanding on factors that influences youth’s happiness. These findings suggest to youth in improving their self-esteem to be happier. Self-esteem improvement will help in the reduction of mental health problems in youth. 

Directions for Future Research

The data could be explained by a different direction of causality. Future studies should also validate and broaden this finding.

Acknowledgement

All of the participants who volunteered to participate in this study are thanked by the authors.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: None.

Funding: None.

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