Proceedings of the International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Examination of the Effectiveness and Applicability of a School-Based Universal Prevention Program in Enhancing Autonomous Self-Esteem Among Lower-Grade Elementary Students: A Comparative Study with Upper-Grade Elementary Students
Katsuyuki Yamasaki, Kanako Uchida
ABSTRACT:
Several years ago, we developed a school-based universal prevention program aimed at enhancing autonomous self-esteem among upper-grade elementary students. Autonomous self-esteem, in contrast to heteronomous self-esteem, is considered healthy and adaptive. Subsequently, a similar program was created for lower-grade elementary students. While Yamasaki and Uchida (2023) confirmed the program’s effectiveness and applicability for lower-grade students, the scales used to assess this effectiveness were not well-standardized. In Study 1 of the present research, we aimed to develop valid and reliable scales to assess autonomous self-esteem and school enjoyment for both lower- and upper-grade elementary students. Results demonstrated the successful development of measures for autonomous self-esteem and school enjoyment, evidenced by factorial validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. The autonomous self-esteem scale included subscales for self-confidence, confidence in others, and intrinsic motivation, in addition to a total score, while the school enjoyment scale was unidimensional. In Study 2, we implemented the programs to enhance autonomous self-esteem and examined their effectiveness and applicability in 1st- and 5th-grade students using the scales developed in Study 1. The program was administered in four 45-minute sessions, conducted once a week during regular classes. The findings indicated that the programs were applicable and effective for both lower- and upper-grade students. These studies clarified that the programs can be applied across a broad range of elementary grades to foster autonomous self-esteem. The discussion includes future research directions and addresses several limitations of the current studies.
keywords: autonomous self-esteem, school-based universal prevention programs, lower- and upper-grade elementary school students, efficacy, applicability