A Comparative Study on Self-Esteem and Assertiveness among Adolescent Girls Studying in Single Sex and Co-Educational Colleges of Himachal Pradesh

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood. Self-esteem plays a crucial role during the adolescence stage when teenagers start to notice changes. Assertiveness helps the adolescents to identify their personal traits that might be holding them back. Being assertive helps the individual to identify how they might deal with negative attitudes in themselves and with others as well. Type of college plays important role in the enhancement of the self-esteem and assertiveness among adolescents. The primary aim of the study was to compare the Self-Esteem and Assertiveness among Adolescent Girls. Non experimental approach was adopted to compare the self-esteem and assertiveness among adolescent girls studying in single-sex and co-educational colleges situated in Shimla District of Himachal Pradesh. Cross-sectional comparative survey design was used, a total of 570 adolescent girls were included in equal strength from single-sex College and co-educational college respectively. Rosenberg self-esteem scale and Rathus Assertiveness schedule was used and internal consistency (r=0.7) and stability (r=0.6) of Rosenberg self-esteem scale and internal consistency (r=0.7) and stability (r=0.7) of Rathus assertiveness scale was tested by using split half and test-retest method respectively. Pilot study was conducted on the 80 subjects and feasibility and sample size was determined, where study was found to be feasible. Baseline self-esteem and assertive level was compared. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Findings of the study revealed that the mean ± SD score of self-esteem among adolescent girls in single-sex and co-educational college 17.98±3.07 and 18.04±3.31 and the assertiveness score in single-sex and co-educational college were 15.71±23.42 and 16.51±20.30 respectively, t test was used to compare the self-esteem and assertiveness and revealed that insignificant difference were found in the mean scores of the self-esteem(p≥0.05) and insignificant difference were observed in the mean scores of assertiveness (p≥0.05). The study concluded that there is no significant difference in self-esteem and assertiveness among adolescent girls studying in single sex and coeducational colleges.