Family Characteristics as Correlates of Self Esteem among Young Adults

This study investigated the family characteristics as the correlates of self esteem among young adults. Three hypotheses were postulated to give direction to the study. The participants for the study consisted of two hundred students randomly selected from tertiary institutions in Ogun state. The instruments used for data collection were Rosenberg's (1965) Self Esteem Scale and Personal Data Card constructed by the researchers. The data collected were analyzed with one- way analysis of variance and independent t-test statistical techniques. The results of the analysis showed that there is a significant difference in self esteem of young adults with respect to their ordinal position. Young adults self esteem have no linkage with size of the family and there is a significant gender difference in young adults self esteem. On the basis of the results, it was recommended among others that preferential treatment should be avoided by parents in the course of relating with their children. Keywords: Self Esteem; Birth Order; Family Size.International Journal of Educational Research Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 17-2