The Relationship between Self-esteem and Happiness among Students of Arak University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: One of the characteristics of a normal personality that can amend an individual’s happiness level is self-esteem. Nowadays, the importance of self-esteem has been increased in different aspects of human's life such as education, occupation, and social settings. This study aimed to determine the relationship between self-esteem and happiness among students of Arak University of Medical Sciences in year two thousand fourteen. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in year 2014 on a sample of 200 students of Arak University of Medical Sciences selected through stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire and Oxford happiness questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results:The mean of students’ age was 21.01± 3.55 years old. Mean scores of self-esteem and happinesswere 5.53±4.43 out of 10 and 43±1.25 out of 87 respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient showed a statistically significant relationship between students’ self-esteem score and happiness score (r=0.058, and p=0.0001). Conclusion:The results showed that students’ self-esteem and happiness in Arak University of Medical Sciences enjoyed ahigh level. It seems that high self-esteem increased happiness. Cultural and educational programs could improve students' self-esteem and happiness.