Self-esteem, emotional intelligence and academic engagement among school-going adolescents in public primary schools in Namutumba Town Council, Namutumba District

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between self-esteem, emotional intelligence and academic engagement among school going adolescents. Specifically, the study was guided by four objectives; to examine the relationship between self-esteem and academic engagement, to examine relationship between self-esteem and emotional intelligence, to establish the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic engagement and to establish whether emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between self-esteem and academic engagement. A correlation design was adopted. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from a population of 480 early school-going adolescents represented by a sample of 214 respondents determined by Krejcie & Morgan, (1970). Data was analysed using SPSS Version 25 and the first three hypotheses were tested using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Hypothesis four was tested using the 3-step regression analysis called Process v4.2. The findings of the study revealed the following; a positive non-significant relationship between self-esteem and academic engagement (r=0.102, p=0.106), a significant relationship between self-esteem and emotional intelligence (r = 0.233, p= 0.003) and a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and academic engagement (r = 0.561, p= 0.00). Additionally emotional intelligence plays a mediating role in the relationship between self-esteem and academic engagement among early adolescents. The study concluded that the findings achieved the objectives, providing insights into how these psychological constructs interact. Emotional intelligence emerged as a significant factor in its mediating role. The recommendations include incorporating lessons focused on self-esteem and emotional intelligence into curriculum to increase academic engagement in order to contribute to the holistic development of adolescents.