Self-Esteem and Psychological Distress
This study investigated the nexus between self-esteem and psychological distress, with focus on aggression, anxiety, and depression among undergraduate youths in South Eastern Nigeria. A total of 700 participants (male = 350; female = 350; M age = 19.85 years) were selected through stratified random sampling from five universities. Data were collected using standardized instruments: the Index of Self-Esteem (Hudson, 1982), Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (Zung, 1965). Data analysis, using analysis of variance (ANOVA), revealed that participants with low self-esteem exhibited significantly higher levels of aggression (F(1,700) = 11.01, p < .05) and depression (F(1,700) = 19.06, p < .05) than those with high self-esteem. No significant difference was found in anxiety across the two groups. The findings align with the Sociometer and Terror Management frameworks, suggesting that self-esteem functions as a psychological buffer that moderates emotional responses and social adjustment. These results underscore the importance of self-esteem enhancement in interventions for youth aggression and depression in tertiary institutions.