A comparative study of self-esteem in secondary school adolescents in urban and rural settings of Oyo State, Nigeria

Early Abstract:

Background: Self-esteem plays a crucial role in adolescent development, influencing psychological well-being, academic performance, and social interactions. However, there is limited research examining self-esteem differences between urban and rural adolescents in Nigeria. This study investigates the self-esteem levels of secondary school students in urban and rural settings in Oyo State, Nigeria, and identifies key predictors of low self-esteem.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 1,638 secondary school adolescents (1,181 urban; 457 rural). Participants were recruited from randomly selected schools in Ibadan (urban) and Igbo-Ora (rural). Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), which was analysed as both a continuous and categorical variable. Hierarchical linear modelling and logistic regression were used to account for clustering effects and identify factors associated with low self-esteem.
Results: Urban adolescents had significantly higher self-esteem scores than their rural counterparts (mean: 14.2 vs. 12.1, p <0.001). The prevalence of low self-esteem was higher among rural adolescents (11.2% males, 8.2% females) compared to urban adolescents (7.8% males, 4.7% females). In the urban setting, attending a public school (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.52–3.31) and identifying as Muslim (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.41–3.12) were significant predictors of low self-esteem. No single predictor was statistically significant for rural adolescents, suggesting self-esteem variability may be influenced by multiple interacting factors.
Conclusion: This study highlights significant disparities in self-esteem levels between urban and rural adolescents, emphasizing the role of educational and socio-cultural factors. Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance self-esteem, particularly among rural adolescents and public school students. Gender-sensitive strategies and improved access to psychological support services should be integrated into adolescent development programs.
Keywords: self-esteem, adolescents, urban-rural comparison, Nigeria, psychological well-being, education, hierarchical modelling