Self-Esteem and its Impact on University Students’ Academic Performance: A Case Study

Self-esteem is an important psychological concept in understanding how an individual evaluates their personal worth and self-value. In the context of university students, the level of self-esteem plays a crucial role in academic achievement. Low self-esteem among university students can negatively affect their motivation, emotional well-being, and academic achievement. This study was conducted to explore how the level of self-esteem impacts the academic performance of university students. A qualitative case study design was employed, involving three randomly selected UniSHAMS’s students as participants through semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed four main themes: Understanding of Self-Esteem, The Impact of Self-Esteem in Daily Life, Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Academic Performance, and Reflection and Self-Awareness. The findings indicate that self-esteem influences aspects such as learning motivation, stress management, goal setting, and social interaction among university students. Those with high self-esteem were more likely to achieve strong academic performance, while those with low self-esteem tended to give up easily and were more emotionally affected. This study highlights the need for psychosocial support programmes to strengthen university students' self-esteem in a holistic manner.