Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the relation between self-esteem (SE) and sense of value working as a dental hygienist (DH).
Methods: In 2006, we conducted a postal questionnaire survey with 268 members of the Dental Hygienists' Association in certain prefectures. The questionnaire consisted of items concerning age, workplace, participation in workshops, life satisfaction, sense of value working as a DH and SE. Responses were measured on a 5-point scale. SE was measured by Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale. Factor analysis was performed to consolidate the responses about sense of value working as a DH. A partial correlation analysis was executed to determine any correlation between SE and the extracted factors and other variables.
Results: The number of effective respondents was 107, whose mean age was 43.6 (SD12.3) years. Mean score for SE was 35.2 (SD7.1), and SE score showed a correlation with age (r=0.467, p<0.01). Three factors were extracted and named as “self-realization as a DH”, “social importance as a DH”, and “self-evaluation as a DH”. As a result of partial correlation analysis, SE was correlated with “self-evaluation” (r=0.506, p<0.01), “self-realization” (r=0.307, p<0.01), “social importance as” (r=0.204, p<0.05), and life satisfaction (r=0.354, p<0.01).
Conclusion: Dental hygienists with high SE had a high self-evaluation as a DH as well as a high sense of value working as a DH.
