Beyond The Classroom: Impact Of Extracurricular Participation On Adolescent Self-Esteem

Extracurricular activities (ECA) are recognized as essential contributors to adolescents’ holistic development, yet their relationship with self-esteem and gender differences remains insufficiently examined. This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between school-based ECA participation and self-esteem among 300 adolescents aged 13–15 years in Varanasi. Battle’s Self-Esteem Inventory, adapted for the Indian context was administered. Four domains of self esteem - general, social, academic, and parental self-esteem were assessed. Results indicated that ECA girls and boys participants scored significantly higher in various domains of self-esteem compared to non-participants. ECA boys exhibited lower social self-esteem than their non-ECA counterparts, and ECA girls reported lower parental self-esteem than non-participants. Further, Gender differences emerged with girls reporting higher general and social self-esteem, while boys reported greater parental self-esteem. These findings suggest that while ECA generally enhances self-esteem, socio-cultural expectations and gender norms shape domain-specific outcomes. The study underscores the importance of integrating ECA into school curricula as essential rather than optional programs, alongside fostering parental support and gender-sensitive interventions to maximize developmental benefits. Kyewords: