"Most of us lead busy lives, so busy that we rarely have a chance to pause, reflect, and examine the way we think and feel about ourselves, our prospects, and the possibilities that await us. Self-esteem - the degree to which an individual values him, her, or themself, and perceives themselves as capable, strong, and worthy - is among the most studied aspects of human behaviour, and for good reason."
"A 2023 meta-analysis of longitudinal studies on self-esteem (i.e., how self-esteem impacts individuals over an extended period) examined self-esteem in terms of its impact on social relationships, school, work, mental health, physical health, and antisocial behaviour. It concluded that high self-esteem "helps individuals adapt to and succeed in a variety of life domains, including having more satisfying relationships, performing better at school and work, enjoying improved mental and physical health, and refraining from antisocial behaviour.""
"Decades of other research reveal the negative impacts of low self-esteem. A 2025 study examining the longitudinal relationship between self-esteem, life satisfaction, and depressive and anxiety symptoms among Chinese Adolescents revealed that "fluctuations in self-esteem significantly impact changes in life satisfaction and depressive and anxiety symptoms," and identified the "crucial role of self-esteem in relation to depressive and anxiety symptoms.""
People often lead busy lives and rarely pause to reflect on their self-perceptions and prospects. Self-esteem is the degree to which an individual values themself and perceives themselves as capable, strong, and worthy. Self-esteem influences mental health, relationships, motivation, courage, and resilience. Longitudinal evidence shows high self-esteem helps individuals adapt and succeed across domains including relationships, school, work, and physical and mental health, and reduces antisocial behaviour. Fluctuations in self-esteem significantly affect life satisfaction and depressive and anxiety symptoms, especially in adolescents. Low self-esteem is widespread and limits self-advocacy, with studies reporting about 80 percent of women struggling with low self-esteem. Self-esteem and self-worth form early in life.
Read at Psychology Today
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