Abstract Title
Relationship Between Education and Positive Self Perception in Young Adults
Additional Funding Sources
The research described was supported by Northwest Nazarene University.
Abstract
There are many benefits associated with education and greater cognitive and socioemotional benefits have been associated with higher education attainment. However, further investigation into the socioemotional effects of higher education is warranted. The current study sought to study higher education's impact on psychological development in young adults. It was hypothesized that more education would predict positive self perception in a large sample (n = 5,113) of young adults ages 25 to 34. By combining four self-reflective survey questions, a single variable was created to reflect individuals’ overall perceptions of self. Results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between higher levels of education and greater degrees of positive self perception. Specifically, a statistically significant but weak positive correlation was identified between Positive Self Perception and levels of completed education, r (5113) = .25, p < .0001. Low, Medium and High economic status was not a significant moderating variable (all r’s <.21; all p’s <.0001). These results underscore previous research showing the many benefits of higher education (Hatch et al., 2007; Guerra-Carrillo, Katovich & Bunge, 2017). Future longitudinal research would be beneficial to identify self perceptions of the same population over time to understand the long-term effects of perceptions of self and higher education.
Relationship Between Education and Positive Self Perception in Young Adults
There are many benefits associated with education and greater cognitive and socioemotional benefits have been associated with higher education attainment. However, further investigation into the socioemotional effects of higher education is warranted. The current study sought to study higher education's impact on psychological development in young adults. It was hypothesized that more education would predict positive self perception in a large sample (n = 5,113) of young adults ages 25 to 34. By combining four self-reflective survey questions, a single variable was created to reflect individuals’ overall perceptions of self. Results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between higher levels of education and greater degrees of positive self perception. Specifically, a statistically significant but weak positive correlation was identified between Positive Self Perception and levels of completed education, r (5113) = .25, p < .0001. Low, Medium and High economic status was not a significant moderating variable (all r’s <.21; all p’s <.0001). These results underscore previous research showing the many benefits of higher education (Hatch et al., 2007; Guerra-Carrillo, Katovich & Bunge, 2017). Future longitudinal research would be beneficial to identify self perceptions of the same population over time to understand the long-term effects of perceptions of self and higher education.
Comments
W26