Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Department of Assessment and Measurement, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Adolescence is a critical developmental period during which perceptions of self-worth are shaped by complex interactions among individual, familial, and social factors. Understanding how adolescents develop and maintain a sense of self-worth can provide valuable insights for promoting their psychological well-being. This study aimed to develop a conceptual model of perceived self-worth among first-year male junior high school students.
Methods: This qualitative study employed a grounded theory approach based on Strauss and Corbin's methodology. Participants consisted of 10 first-year male junior high school students in Karaj, Iran, during the 2025–2026 academic year. They were selected through purposive sampling, followed by theoretical sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding with the constant comparative method.
Findings: Perceived self-worth emerged as the core category of the study. The findings indicated that family, school, peer relationships, personal values, personality characteristics, and self-perception constituted the causal conditions influencing perceived self-worth. A sense of belonging and responsibility served as contextual conditions that facilitated its development. Students adopted strategies such as self-care, self-respect, emotional self-regulation, and striving for personal growth to maintain and strengthen their perceived self-worth. These strategies contributed to positive outcomes, including a greater sense of competence, life satisfaction, hope for the future, and self-confidence.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that perceived self-worth is a dynamic and multidimensional process shaped through the interaction of individual, familial, and social contexts.
Keywords
)