A CORRELATIONAL STUDY BETWEEN GENDER EXPRESSION CONGRUENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT

This study looks into the relationship between gender expression congruence, self-esteem, and academic engagement among third-year Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) students at Cavite State University - Carmona Campus. Gender Expression Congruence is the alignment of an individual's gender identification with their external expression, which is important for self-esteem, especially in transgender and gender nonconforming people. The study used a descriptive-correlational approach, with surveys administered to a sample of 165 students. The study discovered that higher levels of gender expression congruence are associated with higher self-esteem, which is substantially related to increased academic engagement. The findings highlight the necessity of encouraging true gender expression in order to boost students' self-esteem and academic participation, resulting in a more inclusive educational environment. These findings show that educational institutions should consider gender expression support as a means of increasing student engagement and well-being.