I am Closer to Friends, I Feel Worthy: Santri’s Peer-Attachment and Self-Esteem

The environment in Islamic boarding schools makes students feel closer to their peers. When students have closeness with peers, they will feel good emotional attachment and affect their self-esteem. This study aims to determine the effect of peer-attachment on students' self-esteem. This study used a correlational quantitative approach. The participants were 174 students aged 12-19 years from Islamic boarding schools in the city of Palembang, obtained through a purposive sampling technique. Data analysis used a simple linear regression technique. This study found that peer-attachment affects self-esteem by ∆R2 = 3.96%. Therefore, teachers and pesantren authorities must pay attention to peer attachment to increase self-esteem among students, because good peer attachment will increase students' self-esteem. The results show a significant positive effect and emphasize that students who have attachment to peers can have a more positive self-assessment.