Abstract
Background: The complex nature of nursing and midwifery as professions, and the challenges for students to
achieve competencies to meet their profession's clinical and academic requirements all of this factors may have a
negative effect on students' self-esteem. Aim: The study aims to assess the level of self-esteem among male and
female nursing students enrolled in maternity curriculum, at Assiut University. Methods: Purposive sample of 475;
(172 male and 303 female), third year nursing students, Faculty of Nursing, Assuit University were enrolled.
Descriptive design was used in this study, two tools were used for this study; personnel data sheet and Eldesoky selfesteem
scale (2004). Results: The study findings revealed that both female nursing students and male nursing
students had moderate level of self-esteem (42% and 43%) respectively, and also there are statistically significant
difference between levels of self-esteem and "family residency and pre-university qualifications. Conclusion: The
present study concluded that there were no differences in self-esteem levels between males and females nursing
student. Recommendations: The study recommended incorporating self-esteem-related teaching activities into the
existing curriculum to improve students' self-esteem. furthers studies must be done to generalize the results.