Self-esteem: what it is and how it influences your psychological well-being

Feeling good or not with our body, with our professional career and even with romantic relationships are some of the aspects that self-esteem deals with. Self-esteem is the perception that people have about themselves and that can affect their projection with society. But it is something very complex that not only includes perception, but also individual assessment.

So a person may wonder, for example, whether or not they are valid enough for family, friends, and co-workers. To understand how self-esteem is formed, we must go back to an early age, since it is influenced by education, family environment and personal experiences, especially in the social sphere. In this article we explore what self-esteem is in detail, its characteristics, types and how we can develop it.

Let's start by defining what self-esteem means from a psychological point of view. Although there are different definitions of self-esteem, the most used by psychology professionals is the following: As we see, the concept of self-esteem and its meaning go beyond a simple positive or negative evaluation, since it implies personal acceptance and self-concept, that is, the self-perception that is formed through experiences and objective evaluations.

In psychology, self-esteem has always been a highly researched and relevant concept, and at a clinical level different strategies have been documented to get a person to increase their positive self-perception, such as: Likewise, there is research that has shown that high self-esteem is strongly related to happiness and, although causality is not completely established, it is considered that high self-esteem leads to greater happiness (Baumeister et al., 2003).

Various studies have shown that low self-esteem is related to a wide variety of mental disorders and social problems, including internalizing problems (such as depression, suicidal tendencies, eating disorders and anxiety) and externalizing problems (such as violence and substance abuse) (Mann et al., 2004).

In psychological consultation, self-esteem is usually reflected in different attitudes, thoughts and behaviors that can be observed both in people with healthy self-esteem and in those who experience low self-esteem.

Some signs of healthy self-esteem may include: On the other hand, low self-esteem often manifests itself in: These examples can help identify how self-esteem is expressed in everyday life and why it is important to address it in the context of mental health care. Self-concept and self-esteem are related concepts, but with significant differences.

The main difference between self-concept and self-esteem is that self-concept is a more objective and descriptive evaluation, while self-esteem is evaluative and has an emotional charge. Some examples of self-esteem may be a person who, despite recognizing their achievements and abilities, does not value themselves (low self-esteem), in contrast to another who, although they have limitations, finds value in themselves (high self-esteem).

It is important to understand these differences between self-esteem and self-concept in order to work effectively on personal development and psychological therapy. Self-esteem develops from childhood and marks the relationship that a person has with themselves. All people have their own mental projection and the way in which they perceive themselves, which influences whether their self-esteem is positive or negative, as well as high or low.

Furthermore, self-esteem is closely related to the perception of one's worth in the eyes of others, encompassing both the sense of personal adequacy-that is, feeling valuable or status-and social connection, which involves feeling loved, accepted, or included (Rimes et al., 2023).

Although self-esteem is not a heritable trait in the genetic sense, certain patterns of behavior and self-perception can be transmitted indirectly from one generation to another through upbringing. The environment in which one grows up and the relationships with parents define the levels of self-esteem.

Low self-esteem can influence not only how a personsona perceives herself, but also in her social relationships, in her academic or work performance and in her general well-being.

Some of the most common consequences of low self-esteem include: Additionally, research has shown that adolescents with low self-esteem have poorer mental and physical health, poorer economic prospects, and higher levels of criminal behavior as adults compared to those with high self-esteem (Trzesniewski et al., 2006).

References & Sources

• Baumeister, R. F., Campbell, J. D., Krueger, J. I., & Vohs, K. D. (2003). Does high self-esteem cause better performance, interpersonal success, happiness, or healthier lifestyles?
• Kernis, M.H. (2005). Measuring self-esteem in context: The importance of stability of self-esteem in psychological functioning.
• Mann, M., Hosman, C. M. H., Schaalma, H. P., & de Vries, N. K. (2004). Self-esteem in a broad-spectrum approach for mental health promotion.
• Rimes, K. A., Smith, P., & Bridge, L. (2023). Low self-esteem: A refined cognitive behavioral model.
• Sowislo, J. F., & Orth, U. (2012). Does low self-esteem predict depression and anxiety? A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Psychological Bulletin, 139(1), 213–240.
• Trzesniewski, K. H., Donnellan, M. B., Moffitt, T. E., Robins, R. W., Poulton, R., & Caspi, A. (2006). Low self-esteem during adolescence predicts poor health, criminal behavior, and limited economic prospects during adulthood.

This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical, psychological, or legal advice.