Locus of Control or Self-Esteem; Which One is the Best Predictor of Academic Achievement in Iranian College Students

BACKGROUND Self-esteem and behavioral consequences, which are due to external or internal locus of control, are effective on academic achievement of students. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the prediction of locus of control and self-esteem in academic achievement among the students. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 college students in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Data collection tools were in three sections: demographic, Rotter internal-external locus of control scale and Coopersmith self-esteem inventory. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 21. RESULTS Results showed that 29.8% and 76.2% of the participants had internal locus of control, and high self-esteem, respectively. There was a significant correlation between self-esteem, locus of control and academic achievement of the students. Self-esteem accounted for 39.5% of the variation in academic achievement. CONCLUSIONS It seems that interventions to increase self-esteem among student can help improve academic achievement among them.