Self-Esteem and Interpersonal Relationship of Pre-Service Teachers

The study examined the relationship between self-esteem and interpersonal relationship among pre-service teachers in higher education. The study was guided by two research questions, two hypotheses, self-identity theory (Stryker 1980), social exchange theory (Homans, 1958) and social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954). The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The sample size was 166, obtained from total number of level 300 students from the Department of Health Physical Education and Recreation, and Department of Mathematics and ICT under the Faculty of Science and Technology Education. The department of Health Physical Education and Recreation level 300 had total number of students to be 38 and department of Mathematics and ICT level 300 had total student of 124, given a total sample size to be 166. The results of the study are based on 152 out of 166, which constitutes a response rate of 91.6%. Questionnaire was used to gather data from the respondents. The data collected from the respondents were analysed using frequencies and percentages, mean and standard deviations, independent samples t-test, and simple linear regression using 1000 bootstrap samples with Bias Corrected accelerated confidence intervals. The study revealed the following findings: 1) the majority of the respondents experience low self-esteem, 2) The respondents, on average, demonstrate a moderate level of interpersonal relationship engagement, 3) there was no statistically significant relationship between self-esteem and interpersonal relationship and 4) a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of self-esteem between male and female students with male students having lower self-esteem than females. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of tailored interventions, like orientation programs and seminars, to enhance self-esteem, especially among male pre-service teachers. It also underscores the complex link between self-esteem and interpersonal relationship.