Tamaddun
Vol 25 No 1 (2026): June

The Relationship Between Self-Esteem and the Risk of Self-Harm Among High School Students.

Nur Faisah Atirah Faisal (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Abdul Saman (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Ahmad Yasser (Universitas Negeri Makassar)



Article Info

Publish Date
27 Sep 2026

Abstract

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by various physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes that can increase vulnerability to psychological distress. One issue requiring attention is self-harm, which can be associated with difficulties in emotional regulation, family problems, social pressure, and negative self-evaluation. Self-esteem is hypothesized to be an internal protective factor. This study aimed to determine the influence of self-esteem on the risk of self-harm among high school adolescents. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing correlation analysis and simple linear regression. The study involved 29 respondents, using instruments comprising 10 items measuring self-esteem and 10 items assessing self-harm risk. The results indicated that the majority of respondents (62.1%) fell into the high self-esteem category, while the highest proportion of respondents (44.8%) fell into the moderate category for self-harm risk. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between self-esteem and self-harm risk (r = -0.630; p < 0.001). Simple linear regression analysis also yielded a significant model (F(1,27) = 17.727; p < 0.001) with an R² value of 0.396. The regression coefficient of -1.355 indicates that an increase in self-esteem is associated with a decrease in self-harm risk scores. Thus, self-esteem can be viewed as a protective factor with the potential to support promotive and preventive efforts regarding self-harm risk among adolescents in school settings. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the relatively small sample size and the multifactorial nature of self-harm.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

tamaddun-life

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

Tamaddun is a multidisciplinary peer reviewed and open access journal in language, literature, and culture. The aim is to publish conceptual and research articles that explore the application of any language in teaching and the everyday experience of language in education. Its scope is international ...