Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRole of Self-EsteemSigns of Low Self-EsteemAssociated ConditionsHigh Self-EsteemCausesImproving Self-Esteem
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Role of Self-Esteem
Signs of Low Self-Esteem
Associated Conditions
High Self-Esteem
Causes
Improving Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is how a person thinks and feels about their own qualities and characteristics. A person who has positive thoughts about their qualities and characteristics has high self-esteem. On the other hand, a person with negative thoughts about their qualities and characteristics has low self-esteem.
This is important because higher levels of self-esteem translate into improved mental health, and lower levels of self-esteem are related to mental health conditions such asdepression.
This article goes over self-esteem, what it means, and how it affects you. It also offers some advice on how to improve your self-esteem.
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Low self-esteem can impact people of all ages, including children. However, young adults tend to have lower self-esteem than older adults, and women tend to have lower self-esteem than men.
Beyond these trends, many different circumstances, thoughts, and beliefs can impact self-esteem throughout life. A person could have general low self-esteem, or low self-esteem in all areas. It is also possible to have low self-esteem in only some areas, though low self-esteem can carry over into other areas as well.
Academic or Intelligence
There is a relationship between self-esteem, measured intelligence, perceived intelligence, and academic performance. Higher levels of both perceived and measured intelligence and academic achievement have been linked to higher levels of self-esteem.
This relationship has been shown to go further with higher levels of general, educational, social, and public self-esteem all being linked to increased academic achievement.This means that high self-esteem in specific areas is related to positive outcomes in those areas. In fact, high general self-esteem provides benefits in a variety of areas.
Career
Self-esteem can play a role in career progression. Low self-esteem can compromise belief in the ability to make decisions related to careers and the intensity of searching for jobs.Additionally, high levels of self-esteem are linked to being more likely to apply for jobs, more likely to receive job offers, and greater career advancement.
Physical Abilities
Low self-esteem in the area of physical ability is something that can begin in childhood with physical education in schools, extracurricular sports, and activities with peers. It can also continue into adulthood. This may become related to low self-esteem in the area of physical appearance with weight gain associated with avoidance of physical activity.
Those who are more physically active have been found to have higher self-esteem, higher levels of perceived physical fitness, and a more positive body image.
Physical Appearance
Physical appearance, body image, andweightare all linked to self-esteem. Low self-esteem in these areas impacts many teens and adults.
More positive body image is associated with higher self-esteem and decreased risk of harmful effects such as eating disorders.Higher weight is associated with more negative body image, lower self-esteem, and an increased risk of turning to cigarettes and other unhealthy coping behaviors.
Self-Esteem vs. Self-ConceptSelf-concept is a broad description of how you see yourself. It’s everything you know about who you are as a person. Self-esteem, on the other hand, is how you evaluate yourself.
Self-Esteem vs. Self-Concept
Self-concept is a broad description of how you see yourself. It’s everything you know about who you are as a person. Self-esteem, on the other hand, is how you evaluate yourself.
The specific signs of low self-esteem depend on the type of low self-esteem, or the area of self-concept or life related to the negative beliefs. However, some signs can help to identify general low self-esteem.
Someone may have low self-esteem if they are experiencing:
The earlier signs of low self-esteem, if not addressed, could lead to more serious concerns, including mental health conditions such as depression oranxiety, harmful habits such as smoking or drinking, or other negative effects on health and life.
Conditions Associated With Low Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem is linked to many mental health concerns. An increased risk of anxiety, depression, and addiction is seen with low self-esteem, as well as poor relationships and decreased overall quality of life.
Low self-esteem is also a common component of eating disorders such asanorexia nervosa,bulimia nervosa, andbinge eating disorder.
Signs of High Self-Esteem
High self-esteem can help you succeed in many different areas of life, such as school, career, relationships, and mental health. Students with high self-esteem tend to be more engaged in school and more successful at work. They are also more likely to be in stable romantic relationships.
People with high self-esteem have certain qualities that help them excel in these areas. For example:
Causes of Low Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem often has external causes. People tend to develop low self-esteem as a result of something that has happened to them in the past or because of unhealthy relationships with others. Some common causes of low self-esteem include:
How to Improve Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is something that changes over time. Some strategies that can help improve self-esteem include:
Additionally, there are things that can be done intentionally to increase self-esteem, such as working with a mental health professional who uses a type oftalk therapycalled cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT.This may include focusing on specific areas where self-esteem is particularly low or working on general self-esteem.
What Is Self-Serving Bias in Psychology?
Summary
Self-esteem can have a profound impact on your happiness and success. Self-esteem can be associated with many different areas of your life, including work or school, your physical abilities, and your appearance.
Low self-esteem is associated with problems like anxiety, depression, and addiction. It is also strongly correlated with eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
16 Sources
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