In the shadow of dispute: Self-esteem of jewish and arab youths in Israel

The study focused on levels of self-esteem among Jewish and Arab youths in Israel in light of the conflict between the two national groups. The sample consisted of 976 participants: 742 Jewish and 234 Arab. Self-esteem was measured by Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale [1965 Society and the adoloscent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University press]. Arab youths, both male and female, indicated higher levels of self-esteem than Jewish youths. The study revealed differences both in the sources of self-esteem and in the relative importance assigned to variables relating to levels of self-esteem between the two national groups, and found that the self-esteem of Arab youths was grounded at least partially in their ethnic/national identification. Results were interpreted with reference to differences in culture, socialization processes, and perceptions of life variables (feeling hope and fear, relationships with parents and friends, characteristics of family and friends), and in light of the possible influence of the tension between the Jewish and Arab national groups in Israel. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.