A Comparative Study of Academic Achievement and Self –Esteem Among Rural and Urban Secondary School Students of Varanasi

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the self-Esteem and academic achievement of urban and rural adolescents, and to examine the gender differences in self- Esteem and academic achievement. The sample of this study consisted of 400 adolescents (200 urban and 200 rural) from Varanasi District. The boys and girls (aged 14 to18) were equally distributed among the urban and rural sample. Self-esteem was measured by Self-esteem questionnaire and academic achievement was measured by academic school records. The findings indicated that there were no significant differences with regard to self-esteem of rural and urban adolescents. There were significant differences with regard to academic achievement of rural and urban adolescents. Urban adolescents scored higher in academic achievement as compared to rural adolescents. Boys would score significant higher on self-esteem as compared to girls. Significant gender differences were found in academic achievement. Girls were significantly higher on academic achievement as compared to boys.