https://matjournals.net/nursing/index.php/JNREM en-US Journal of Nursing Research, Education and Management https://matjournals.net/nursing/index.php/JNREM/article/view/784 <p><strong><em>Background: </em></strong><em>Adolescence is a pivotal developmental phase where self-esteem serves as a core determinant of emotional resilience, academic achievement, and social adaptation. In semi-urban and rural regions, understanding baseline self-esteem levels and their socio-demographic influences is critical for designing targeted school mental health interventions. </em></p> <p><strong><em>Objectives:</em></strong><em> To assess the existing levels of self-esteem &amp; to determine the statistical association between levels of self-esteem and selected socio-demographic variables. </em></p> <p><strong><em>Methods:</em></strong><em> A quantitative descriptive survey design was conducted among </em> <em>&nbsp;high school students (8th and 9th standards, aged 13–15 years) in selected schools of Siwan, Bihar. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique (lottery method). Data were collected using a structured Socio-Demographic Proforma and the standardized Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Data were analysed using SPSS with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, with the significance threshold set at </em> <em>. </em></p> <p><strong><em>Results:</em></strong><em> The findings revealed that a majority of the students—60% demonstrated a moderate level of self-esteem, 30% exhibited low self-esteem, and only 10% possessed high self-esteem. Inferential analysis demonstrated a statistically significant association between self-esteem levels and two socio-demographic factors: Family Type (</em> <em>) and Area of Permanent Residence (</em> <em>). Students residing in joint family structures and semi-urban localities exhibited higher self-esteem scores compared to their peers from nuclear families or rural backgrounds. Other socio-demographic variables showed no statistically significant association (</em> <em>). </em></p> <p><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong><em> A substantial proportion (30%) of high school adolescents in rural Bihar experience low self-esteem, which is significantly influenced by immediate family structure and residential environment rather than monetary income or gender. </em></p> Khundrakpam Sarita Devi P. Ponnarasi Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Nursing Research, Education and Management https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 2026-08-19 2026-08-19 1 11 10.46610/JNREM.2026.v08i03.001