Predicting Performance: Self-Esteem among Soldiers Attending Health Care Specialist Training

Abstract

Reducing failure and recycling in demanding military Advanced Individual Training (AIT) programs will reduce costs: time and morale for the Soldier and financial costs for the organization. This study is one in a series, examining factors internal and external to the Soldier that can influence performance during AIT. The purpose of this research was to document self-esteem among 253 Soldiers attending Health Care Specialist Training using the Rosenberg Self-esteem Survey and to examine the relationship between self-esteem, general demographics, self-reported health, motivation, self-efficacy and grade point average (GPA). Self-reports of self-esteem were categorized as 11% low, 37% moderate, and 52% high. No relationship was found between self-esteem and gender, marital status, age, race, military component or high school GPA or science grades (p>0.05). Self-esteem was correlated with self-reported health status, endurance, strength, self efficacy and motivation (p< 0.05). No relationship was found between self-esteem and GPA.

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