Title: Balancing Learner Ego: Implications for Academic Success and Value Enhancement Among Ugandan University Students
Authors: Ahumuza Audrey, Nabaasa Desire
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
Pages: 132-140
Publication Date: 2025/09/28
Abstract:
This study investigated the balance of learner ego and its implications for academic success and value enhancement among university students in Uganda, aiming to understand how self-concept regulation influences educational outcomes and personal development. The research problem emerged from observations that many Ugandan university students struggle to balance healthy self-confidence with realistic self-assessment, leading to academic underperformance and limited personal growth. The main objective was to examine the relationship between learner ego balance and academic success while exploring its implications for value enhancement among Ugandan university students. A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing a cross-sectional survey design with 420 university students from five major Ugandan universities, complemented by focus group discussions with 30 students and interviews with 12 academic counselors. Data analysis involved univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical techniques using SPSS version 28. Key findings revealed that 62.4% of students exhibited moderate ego balance levels, while only 28.1% demonstrated optimal ego regulation. Correlation analysis showed a positive relationship (r=0.617, p<0.001) between ego balance and academic success, with multivariate regression indicating that ego regulation explained 38.7% of variance in academic performance. The study concluded that balanced learner ego significantly enhances academic success and value development, though most students require intervention to achieve optimal ego regulation. The key recommendation is the implementation of comprehensive socio-emotional learning programs that integrate ego balance training with academic instruction to optimize student outcomes and personal development in Uganda's university system.