Gender Difference in Self-Esteem of Medical Students.
- Author:
Jeong seon YOO
1
;
Won Sun YANG
;
Kyong Eun LEE
;
Sang Eun LEE
;
Christopher Seongkyu LEE
;
Hoo Yeon LEE
;
Eun Cheol PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Self-esteem;
Gender;
Medical Students
- MeSH:
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Depression;
Female;
Humans;
Korea;
Male;
Schools, Medical;
Students, Medical*;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Korean Journal of Medical Education
2003;15(3):241-248
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Many studies from the past have indicated that women tend to have lower self- esteem than men. This cross-sectional study looks for this tendency in a medical school in Korea, where men are still thought to comprise much of a dominating force despite the current growth in number of female students in student body. Along with the cross-examination of possible gender difference in self-esteem, the significant and relevant factors will also be sought and discussed. METHODS: Questionnaires were obtained from 202 junior and senior students (125 male and 77 female students) in a medical school in Korea. Self-esteem was determined using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (reliability = 86% in our study). Multiple regression analysis was used to determine gender difference in self-esteem and statistical relevance in each covariate. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in self-esteem between male and female medical students. Significant factors related to self-esteem include school rank, physical attractiveness, and depression, among which of them, depression was the strongest. CONCLUSION: Innate limitation of cross-sectional studies and evaluation of selected junior and senior students of a single medical school could possibly explain for the absence of gender difference in self-esteem in this study. Academic achievement and physical attractiveness are shown to be positive factors for self-esteem, while depression puts negative force in one's self-esteem.
