Personality, Self- esteem, and Materialism in University Students

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between personality, self-esteem, and materialism in university students. The study's design was correlational. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select 300 university students, including 122 males and 178 females. The data was gathered using standardized tests. The analysis was run using the IBM SPSS version 21. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, multiple linear regression, and an independent sample t-test. The study revealed that extraversion strongly, positively, and significantly correlated with material value scale and acquisition centrality. Openness to experience and neuroticism had significant negative correlations with possession-defined success and acquisition centrality, respectively. Moreover, self-esteem showed a significantly positive correlation with acquisition centrality and a negative correlation with the acquisition of pursuit of happiness. Personality and self-esteem did not significantly predict materialism in university students. Moreover, gender differences were found only in neuroticism, with women scoring higher than men. The findings have significant implications that highlight the importance of personality traits in determining materialistic behavior and creating educational initiatives meant to lower materialistic ideals and foster positive self-esteem among university students.