Date of Award

Fall 1999

Document Type

Legacy Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Elementary Education

College

College of Education

First Advisor

Sharon H. Thompson

Abstract/Description

Researchers have documented a decline in the global self-esteem of adolescent girls, however these studies have focused on girls in the public schools, with little attention to girls who are homeschooled. It is believed that homeschooling, shielding adolescent girls from negative peer pressures and providing increased attention during instruction and frequent contact with parents results in higher self-esteem than is found in public school girls. Eleven homeschool and nineteen public school girls completed a survey which included the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and a subjective survey that asked the questions about goals, friends, and peer pressure. Homeschool girls demonstrated higher global and personal self-esteem, however it remains unclear whether educational environment is the leading factor in this increase.

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