Correlation Between Self-esteem and Depression Among Poorly Performing Students of Africa Nazarene University, Kenya

Education enhances edification of human knowledge and societal development. Good academic performance becomes very crucial for university students to attain knowledge that can be used for oneself and for the good of the human society. This research investigated the correlation between self-esteem and depression among poorly performing students of Africa Nazarene University, Kenya. It addressed the following questions: What are the levels of self-esteem among poorly performing students of African Nazarene University, Kenya? What are the levels of depression among poorly performing students of Africa Nazarene University, Kenya? Is there correlation between self-esteem and depression among poorly performing students of Africa Nazarene University, Kenya? The participants of the study were 335 undergraduate male and female students. The study employed Systematic Random sampling, using Rosenberg self-esteem scale and BDI-II for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS and presented in summary tables. Pearson’s (r) coefficient was used to examine the relationship between self-esteem and depression. Findings show that 49.5% of the participants were average in their self-esteem, 43.2% came under high self-esteem, and 7.8% were in low self-esteem. Gender revealed that females had high self-esteem, and the males had average self-esteem. On depression, 52.8% were in mild mood disturbance (no depression), 10.5% had borderline clinical depression, 15.6% had moderate depression, 8.1% had severe depression, and 13.5% showed extreme depression. Gender revealed females had borderline clinical depression, the males had mild mood disturbance (no depression). The study established that there was a significant positive relationship (r = .420**; p = .000, at 0.01 level of significance) between self-esteem and depression among poorly performing students of Africa Nazarene University, Kenya