Self-esteem

Which country values high self-esteem to a greater extent than people in other countries?

What is the relationship between self-esteem and social comparisons in middle childhood?

What are the consequences of having low self-esteem in middle childhood in Western countries?

Which area is the strongest contributor to overall self-esteem for most children and adolescents?

How do children combine their different areas of self-concept into an overall level of self-esteem?

In which case would low athletic self-concept have no effect on overall self-esteem?

Which cultural setting values self-criticism as a virtue and considers high self-esteem a character problem?

In which transition does self-esteem decline slightly as children enter a school environment?

Which type of countries have higher self-esteem scores, according to cross-cultural research?

Which specific areas do children have self-concepts for?

What is the relationship between self-concept and overall self-esteem?

What is the strongest contributor to overall self-esteem for most children and adolescents?

Self-Esteem Across Cultures and Developmental Stages

The United States values high self-esteem to a greater extent than people in other countries.

In middle childhood, self-esteem is negatively correlated with social comparisons, meaning that frequent social comparisons can lead to lower self-esteem.

Consequences of Low Self-Esteem

In Western countries, having low self-esteem in middle childhood can lead to negative consequences, such as depression and anxiety.

Contributors to Overall Self-Esteem

For most children and adolescents, the area of academic competence is the strongest contributor to overall self-esteem.

Combining Self-Concepts

Children combine their different areas of self-concept (e.g., academic, athletic, social) into an overall level of self-esteem by weighing their strengths and weaknesses in each area.

Self-Concept and Overall Self-Esteem

Low athletic self-concept has no effect on overall self-esteem if the individual has high self-concepts in other areas (e.g., academic, social).

Cultural Differences in Self-Esteem

In some East Asian cultural settings, self-criticism is valued as a virtue and high self-esteem is considered a character problem.

Developmental Transitions and Self-Esteem

Self-esteem declines slightly as children enter a school environment during the transition from preschool to elementary school.

Cross-Cultural Research on Self-Esteem

Individualistic countries (e.g., the United States) have higher self-esteem scores than collectivist countries (e.g., Japan, China).

Self-Concept Areas

Children have self-concepts for specific areas, including academic, athletic, social, and physical appearance.