From Classrooms to Confidence: Schooling Background and Self-Esteem
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Psychology, Social Work
2nd Student Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
2nd Student Major
Psychology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Esther Malm, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
From Classrooms to Confidence: Schooling Background and Self-Esteem
Getting involved in College after transitioning from Highschool can be difficult for many people, even those with prior exposure to the involvement aspects of schooling. College involvement, in this study, is defined as the students participation in clubs and extracurricular activity in school. Students that attended private school or homeschool may have had less opportunities to be involved than those who attended public school for their secondary education careers. Existing studies suggest that high levels of involvement has a close relationship with high self-esteem and vice versa with low levels of involvement being tied to low self esteem. There are multiple factors that play a role in the self-esteem of students entering college. However, this study specifically looks at the effects of past schooling background and level of college involvement as it plays a role in one's self-esteem in college. The specific question in our research asked if the level of involvement of previously homeschooled or private schooled students in college affects their self-esteem? With this question, a few hypotheses were made: (1) Homeschooled students will feel less involved in extracurricular activities than private school students in college. (2) College students who are less involved in extracurricular activities will have lower reported self-esteem than those who are more involved. (3) Homeschooled students will enter college with a lower self-esteem than private schooled students making them less likely to get involved. Information from this study could be used by the university to understand how their students' backgrounds and involvement can impact their self esteem. Research for this study is ongoing but our current sample size is over 90 participants.
Keywords: involvement, self-esteem, public school, private school, homeschool
Fall Scholars Week 2025
Psychology: Projects In-Progress
From Classrooms to Confidence: Schooling Background and Self-Esteem
From Classrooms to Confidence: Schooling Background and Self-Esteem
Getting involved in College after transitioning from Highschool can be difficult for many people, even those with prior exposure to the involvement aspects of schooling. College involvement, in this study, is defined as the students participation in clubs and extracurricular activity in school. Students that attended private school or homeschool may have had less opportunities to be involved than those who attended public school for their secondary education careers. Existing studies suggest that high levels of involvement has a close relationship with high self-esteem and vice versa with low levels of involvement being tied to low self esteem. There are multiple factors that play a role in the self-esteem of students entering college. However, this study specifically looks at the effects of past schooling background and level of college involvement as it plays a role in one's self-esteem in college. The specific question in our research asked if the level of involvement of previously homeschooled or private schooled students in college affects their self-esteem? With this question, a few hypotheses were made: (1) Homeschooled students will feel less involved in extracurricular activities than private school students in college. (2) College students who are less involved in extracurricular activities will have lower reported self-esteem than those who are more involved. (3) Homeschooled students will enter college with a lower self-esteem than private schooled students making them less likely to get involved. Information from this study could be used by the university to understand how their students' backgrounds and involvement can impact their self esteem. Research for this study is ongoing but our current sample size is over 90 participants.
Keywords: involvement, self-esteem, public school, private school, homeschool