FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND AND SELF-ESTEEM AMONG NEW UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

University education is viewed as an honourable level of education as it enables personal development in different areas of expertise through scientific exposure. Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase on the issues of rising cost of education, as well as students’ emotional fragility within the higher education sector which may link to many negative outcomes. This article aims to examine the influence of financial difficulties and sociodemographic characteristics on new university students’ self-esteem using t-test and ANOVA analysis on 411 respondents. Results showed that a student's programme is the only factor that significantly influences a new student’s self-esteem. In light of these surprising findings, this study discussed the implication and strategies, particularly in maintaining students’ self-esteem during their study term.