Exploring the Correlation Between Peer Interaction and Self-Esteem in Early Childhood: A Study of 5–6-Year-Olds in Indonesian Kindergartens

Authors

  • Nuzulia Rizkika Wahyudyanti Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia
  • Anayanti Rahmawati Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v17i4.7381

Keywords:

early childhood, peer interaction, self-esteem, kindergarten, socio-emotional development

Abstract

Self-esteem plays a critical role in early childhood development, influencing social competence, emotional well-being, and peer relationships. Given the increasing recognition of socio-emotional development in kindergartens, this study investigates the relationship between peer interaction and self-esteem in children aged 5–6 years. A quantitative correlational design was used, involving 100 kindergarten children selected through cluster random sampling from four schools in Banjarsari District, Surakarta. Data were collected using teacher-rated questionnaires adapted from validated instruments. The peer interaction scale consisted of 36 items (Cronbach’s α = 0.983), and the self-esteem scale included 7 valid items (Cronbach’s α = 0.762). Statistical analysis was conducted using the Pearson Product Moment correlation in SPSS 27. The analysis showed a significant positive correlation between peer interaction and self-esteem (r = 0.593, p < 0.001), indicating a moderate relationship. Most children fell into the medium category for both peer interaction (65%) and self-esteem (62%). Boys showed slightly higher averages in both variables compared to girls. The findings support theoretical perspectives, including Vygotsky’s and Erikson’s views on socio-emotional development, emphasizing the importance of peer interaction in shaping children’s self-concept. While the study provides useful insights for educators and parents, its generalizability is limited due to its localized sample and reliance on teacher-reported data. Future research is recommended to adopt longitudinal designs and include observational or multi-informant assessments.

References

Anggraeni, D., & Muchlisin, M. A. (2023). Penerapan Self-Esteem pada Anak Usia Dini untuk Meminimalisir Kasus Bullying di KB Riyadul Umat. Journal of Education Research, 4(3), 972-979. https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v4i3.238

Aprilla, A. R. (2020). Hubungan antara Interaksi Teman Sebaya dan Harga Diri dengan Orientasi Masa Depan pada Narapidana Remaja di Lembaga Pembinaan Khusus Anak (LPKA) Klas IA Kutoarjo. (Skripsi, Universitas Sebelas Maret). https://digilib.uns.ac.id/dokumen/detail/59825/Hubungan-Antara-Interaksi-Teman-Sebaya-dan-Harga-Diri-Dengan-Orientasi-Masa-Depan-pada-Narapidana-Remaja-di-Lembaga-Pembinaan-Khusus-Anak-LPKA-Klas-IA-Kutoarjo

Arroisi, J. (2022). Konsep harga diri: Studi komparasi perspektif psikologi modern dan islam. Psikologika: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Penelitian Psikologi, 27(1), 89-106 http://repo.unida.gontor.ac.id/id/eprint/1905

Artanti, A., Novianti, R., & Zulkifli, N. (2021). Analisis bullying pada anak panti asuhan usia 0-6 tahun di panti asuhan Ar-rahim Pekanbaru. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, 5(2), 2848-2857. https://www.jptam.org/index.php/jptam/article/view/1309

Ayuni, D. (2021). Pencegahan Bullying dalam Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. Journal of Education Research, 2(3), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v2i3.55

Duli, N. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif: Beberapa Konsep Dasar Untuk Penulisan Skripsi & Analisis Data dengan SPSS. Deepublish.

Febristi, A., Arif, Y., & Dayati, R. (2020). Faktor Sosial Dengan Self Esteem (Harga Diri) Pada Remaja Dipanti Asuhan. Jurnal Kebidanan Malahayati, 6(1), 48–56. https://doi.org/10.33024/jkm.v6i1.2308

Fitri, A. Z., & Haryanti, N. (2020). Metodologi penelitian pendidikan: Kuantitatif, kualitatif, mixed method dan research and development. Madani Media.

Gunawan, C. (2018). Mahir Menguasai SPSS (Mudah Mengolah Data dengan IBM SPSS Statistic 25). Deepublish.

Harris, M. A., & Orth, U. (2020). The link between self-esteem and social relationships: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Journal of personality and social psychology, 119(6), 1459–1477. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000265.

Huang, X., Hu, N., Yao, Z., & Peng, B. (2022). Family functioning and adolescent depression: A moderated mediation model of self-esteem and peer relationships. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 962147. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.962147

Indriani, M., Rosra, M., & Andriyanto, R. E. (2019). Relationship Between Self-Esteem with Social Interaction in Students. Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling, 7(5), 1–14.

Lee, S. H. (2020). Kindergarten teachers’ perspectives on young children’s bullying roles in relation to dominance and peer relationships: A short-term longitudinal approach in South Korea. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(5), 1734. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051734

Lee, S. H., Hong, I., & Park, H. Y. (2022). Development of a Social Play Evaluation Tool for Preschool Children. Healthcare, 10(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10010102

Maree, J. G. (2021). The psychosocial development theory of Erik Erikson: critical overview. Early Child Development and Care, 191(7–8), 1107–1121. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2020.1845163

Mubarak, Z. (2022). Penelitian Kuantitatif dan Statistik Pendidikan: Cara Praktis Meneliti Berbasis Contoh Aplikatif dengan SPSS. Pustaka Turats Press.

Muin, A. (2023). Buku Ajar Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif. Literasi Nusantara Abadi.

Munawarah, R. R. D. (2022). Dampak bullying terhadap perkembangan sosial emosional anak usia dini (studi kasus) di Raudhatul Athfal Mawar Gayo. Bunayya: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak, 8(2), 15-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.22373/bunayya.v8i2.14468

Nasution, F. S. (2021). Kasus Bullying ditinjau dari kecerdasan emosional dan kesehatan mental anak usia dini. Mubtada: Jurnal Ilmiah dalam Pendidikan Dasar, 4, 1-12. https://www.ejournal.stitalhikmahtt.ac.id/index.php/mubtada/article/view/92

Neri Tejada, J., Li, L., & Hammer, M. (2024). Children’s Classroom Experiences in Building Peer Relationships. Early Childhood Education Journal, 52(6), 991–1000. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-023-01484-w

Orth, U., & Robins, R. W. (2022). Is high self-esteem beneficial? Revisiting a classic question. American Psychologist, 77(1), 5-17. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000922

Pinquart, M., & Gerke, D. C. (2019). Associations of parenting styles with self-esteem in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28, 2017-2035. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01417-5

Priyatno, D. (2024). Teknik Dasar untuk Analisis Data Menggunakan SPSS. Penerbit Andi.

Salsabila, R., & Fitriyani, H. (2020). Pengaruh Teknik Self-Instruction Dalam Pendekatan Cognitive Behavior Therapy untuk Meningkatkan Harga Diri Korban Perundungan. INSIGHT: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling, 9(1), 56-69. https://doi.org/10.21009/INSIGHT.091.06

Saputra, A. (2019). Permainan Edukatif Untuk Anak Usia Dini. PELANGI: Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Penelitian Islam Anak Usia Dini, 1(1), 102–113. https://doi.org/10.52266/pelangi.v1i1.283

Sugiyono. (2022). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif. Penerbit Alfabeta.

Sukardi. (2019). Metodologi Penelitian Pendidikan: Kompetensi dan Praktiknya (Edisi Revisi). Bumi Aksara.

Tantono, D. F. S. A. (2019). Pengaruh bullying terhadap harga diri siswa sekolah dasar. Acta Psychologia, 1(2), 142-148. https://doi.org/10.21831/ap.v1i2.43143

Widhiyanti, A. L. (2008). Hubungan antra teman sebaya dan harga diri pada anak usia sekolah di SDN 05 pondok Cina Depok tahun 2008. (Tugas Akhir, Universitas Indonesia). https://lib.ui.ac.id/detail?id=20276511&lokasi=lokal

Wood, C., Griffin, M., Barton, J., & Sandercock, G. (2021). Modification of the Rosenberg scale to assess self-esteem in children. Frontiers in public health, 9, 655892. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.655892.

Zhong, M., Huang, X., Huebner, E. S., & Tian, L. (2021). Association between bullying victimization and depressive symptoms in children: The mediating role of self-esteem. Journal of affective disorders, 294, 322-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.07.016

Downloads

Published

2026-01-03

How to Cite

Wahyudyanti, N. R., & Rahmawati, A. (2026). Exploring the Correlation Between Peer Interaction and Self-Esteem in Early Childhood: A Study of 5–6-Year-Olds in Indonesian Kindergartens. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 17(4), 8161–8169. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v17i4.7381

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2025): DECEMBER 2025

Section

Articles

Citation Check

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.