An overview of high school student’s self-esteem in relation to parent and peer attachment

Abstract

Attachment is the emotional bond between the infant and the primary caregiver that has a tremendous impact throughout their life. The current study aimed to explore the attachment of adolescents to parents and peers, their relationship and the impact on the development of self-esteem in adolescents aged between 16 and 18 years. The sample (N = 561) was randomly selected and data were collected across males (N = 250) and females (N = 311) from high schools. The method used in this study is the descriptive research design and data were collected using questionnaires about attachment and self-esteem. The results indicated that, overall, there was a correlation between parent attachment and peer attachment to self-esteem in adolescents. It turned out that attachment to parents shows a significant relationship with self-esteem regarding peer attachment. According to the research findings, we can conclude that a secure parent attachment contributes to a secure peer attachment and high self-esteem. The findings of this study can serve as an empirical basis for taking initiatives that focus on improving the psychosocial well-being of adolescents.

Keywords: Attachment; development; relationship; high school; self-esteem; students.