La autoestima en alumnos de 3º a 8º básico. Una mirada por nivel de escolaridad y género

La autoestima es una de las areas mas significativas para el bienestar emocional, la adaptacion social y la productividad. Se reportan resultados de un estudio cuyo objetivo fue evaluar la autoestima de estudiantes de ensenanza basica (3o a 8o), a traves del instrumento estandarizado en Chile TAE-Alumno ( Marchant, Haeussler y Torretti, 2002) y profundizar en las diferencias por nivel de escolaridad  y genero. Participaron 5161 ninos chilenos de 3o a 8o basico, pertenecientes a 10 colegios particulares subvencionados de la Region Metropolitana. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en los niveles de autoestima entre los nivel de escolaridad evaluados, observandose una baja a medida que aumenta la escolaridad. Tambien se encontraron diferencias significativas por genero, apareciendo en 6o basico y acentuandose en 7o y 8o basico a favor de los hombres. Se reconoce la necesidad de que las comunidades educativas esten atentas a las diferencias por nivel de escolaridad y por genero haciendo intervenciones en los periodos que resultan mas criticos en la construccion de la identidad. Se argumenta que los colegios, desde su influencia en la socializacion de los estudiantes, estan en una posicion privilegiada para favorecer el desarrollo de una autoestima positiva. Palabras clave: Autoestima, Genero, Nivel de escolaridad, Socializacion, Aprendizaje socioemocional. Self-esteem in Students of 3th to 8th Grade. A Review by School Grade and Gender Self-esteem is one of the most significant areas for emotional well-being, social adaptation and productivity in life. The results of this study, whose goal was to evaluate the self-esteem of elementary and middle school students, with a standarized test of self-esteem TAE-Alumno ( Marchant, Haeussler y Torretti, 2002) and to analize  the sample stratified by school grade  and gender, are reported. Participants were 5161 Chilean children of 3th to 8th grade, who belong to 10 schools in the Metropolitan Region. Significant differences of self-esteem in the different school grades evaluated were found. A drop in self-esteem as school grades increase, was recorded. Gender differences were also significative from 6th grade and became more significant in 7th and 8th grade, on behalf of boys. The study recognizes the need for schools to be aware of the differences by school grade and gender, in order to intervene in critical periods of the construction of personal identity. Schools are a source of influence on student’s socialization, so they are in a unique position to promote the development of positive self-esteem. Keywords: Self-esteem, Gender, Socialization, School grade, Socioemotional development.