South American Research Journal, 4(1), 26-31
https://www.sa-rj.net//index.php/sarj/article/view/54
autoestima están asociados con mayores niveles de felicidad
en los participantes.
Self-esteem and happiness in university
students in internal migration condition
in Cuenca - Ecuador, 2023
Palabras clave: autoestima, felicidad, estudiantes
universitarios, migración interna.
Autoestima y felicidad en estudiantes
universitarios en condición de migración
interna en Cuenca - Ecuador, 2023
INTRODUCTION
Self-esteem and happiness have been relevant topics
throughout history, but in recent decades, these concepts have
gained greater prominence due to their role as indicators of
psychological well-being. Their importance has motivated a
growing interest in the field of positive psychology, which focuses
on studying positive variables to offer new responses to
contemporary problems (Garassini, 2022).
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2019), migration is closely
related to education. In this context, several authors note that
migrants are often more vulnerable to mental and psychosocial
disorders, suchasanxiety, depression, stress, andother pathologies
1
Student, Faculty of Psychology, University of Cuenca, Cuenca-
Ecuador.
2
Student, Faculty of Psychology, University of Cuenca, Cuenca-
Ecuador.
3
Professor, Faculty of Psychology, University of Cuenca, Cuenca-
Ecuador.
(Suárez and Vásquez, 2021; Cabrera et al., 2023).
A study conducted in Ecuador revealed that at least 24% of
university students show signs of anxiety, depression, social
dysfunction, and somatization (Moreta et al., 2021). A similar
phenomenon occurs with migration, which involves a process of
grieving and adapting to a new environment(Cabrera et al., 2023).
In response to this issue, efforts have been made to boost self-
esteem and happiness to improve mental health (Bastos, 2023).
Studies have shown that adequate self-esteem fosters greater
security, assertiveness, optimism, and independence (Rosenberg,
Received: July 13, 2024 - Accepted: September 12, 2024 -
Publication: September 17, 2024
ABSTRACT
Self-esteem and happiness are fundamental constructs in
positive psychology, particularlyinvulnerable populations such as
migrants. The primary objective of this study was to examine the
relationship between self-esteem and happiness among migrant
university students studying psychology at the University of
Cuenca. The research followed a positivist paradigm, utilizing a
non-experimental design, with a quantitative, correlational, and
cross-sectionalapproach. Thesamplecomprised115studentswho
were assessed using the Alarcón Happiness Scale and the
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The findings demonstrated a
significant positive correlation between the two variables,
indicating that higher levels of self-esteem are linked to greater
happiness in the participants.
1965; Dyer, 2019). Similarly, ithas been demonstrated that people
with high levels of happiness tend to manage their thoughts,
motivation, attitude, and will optimistically, which facilitates goal
achievement and the creation of coping strategies in crisis
situations (Alarcón, 2015; Sánchez, 2023).
The migration phenomenon among students often originates
from the transition to higher-level studies, and many times, the
institutions where they wish to study are not geographically close,
leading to mobilization between regions (Cabrera et al., 2023).
Within human mobility, there are different types of migration, and
UNESCO (2019) has defined internal migration as the movement
of people to a new area within the same country.
The impact of migration has been the subject of numerous
studies, where the examination of positive aspects has become
relevant. In this context, positive psychology has positioned itself
as a balanced discipline that studies positive human strengths and
characteristics to guide people toward happiness, a meaningful
life, and the realization of their human potential (Bastos, 2023).
Among these strengths, variables such as self-esteem and
happiness stand out.
Rosenberg (1965) defines self-esteem as a positive or
negative evaluation of oneself, which arises after evaluating one's
own characteristics. This concept of self-esteem is fundamental to
thepresent study. Accordingto Rosenberg(1965), self-esteem can
beclassifiedintotwotypes:positiveandnegative, althoughhealso
contemplates an intermediate level, which does not present major
difficulties but requires adequate development. Positive self-
esteem is associated with an objective perception, as well as
personal acceptance and evaluation, regardless of failures. In
contrast, negative self-esteem involves difficulties characterized
by a distorted perception of oneself, with a tendency toward self-
criticism and constant self-rejection.
Keywords: Self-esteem, happiness, university students,
internal migration.
RESUMEN
La autoestima
y
la felicidad son constructos
fundamentales en el campo de la psicología positiva,
especialmente en poblaciones vulnerables como los
migrantes. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo general
determinar la relación entre la autoestima y la felicidad en
estudiantes universitarios migrantes de la carrera de
Psicología de la Universidad de Cuenca. La investigación se
basó en un paradigma positivista, con un diseño no
experimental, de enfoque cuantitativo, alcance correlacional
y de corte transversal. La muestra estuvo conformada por 115
estudiantes, a quienes se les aplicaron la Escala de Felicidad
de Alarcón y la Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg. Los
resultados mostraron una correlación significativa y positiva
entre las variables, lo que indica que niveles más altos de
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13785106
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