The development of a sense of self—“who am I”—is a major, if not the most important, developmental task of adolescence. The self-concept is an amalgamation of an individual’s physical, emotional, social, intellectual and educational traits. The self-concept is an objective statement of a teen’s personal traits. Self-esteem is the value an adolescent applies to the self-concept. Am I special, important; am I am a failure? The adolescent will chose some traits that are value-laden and develop self-esteem from these particular characteristics.
Every teen needs to pass through psychosocial development during adolescence in order to have a realistic view of self. A task of this developmental process is to achieve a realistic and positive self-image. The teen then develops self-esteem from this self-image.
Positive self-esteem is exceedingly important. Some researchers have found a negative correlation between self-esteem and the initiation of sexual intercourse for girls in middle school. Sexually active girls in middle school had lower self-esteem compared to girls who had never had sexual intercourse. The research could not determine, however, if sex had caused girls to feel badly about themselves or if girls who felt good about themselves postponed sex.
Low self-esteem as well as low levels of social confidence, assertiveness, personal control and self-efficacy has been found a risk factor for a teen to initiate cigarette smoking. In addition, adolescents with depression frequently exhibit low self-esteem. And teens with learning disabilities may, as a result, have low self-esteem.
Chronic illness may have an effect on a teen’s self-esteem. Chronically ill adolescents are more likely to be socially isolated and less involved in peer groups. As a result, they may spend more time alone or with their families. Studies have shown that chronically ill adolescents who spend more time with peers tend to have higher self-esteem. Peers who accept a teen with chronic illness will probably enhance that teen’s self-esteem. Other studies have found that teens with cancer who had increased knowledge about the disease had a more positive self-esteem than those teens with less knowledge.
Most adolescents who are afflicted with a chronic rheumatic disease do not have lower self-esteem compared to their healthy peers. Teens adjust well internally to this chronic problem. Researchers feel, however, that social prejudice is a bigger problem. Most teens accept their disability as a fact of life, and no relationship has been found with the degree of disability and self-image issues.
Adolescents are more likely to have feelings of isolation and inferiority when there are visible signs of the disease that differentiate him or her from peers. Body image disruption, which may include loss of hair from chemotherapy, amputation, loss of weight or side effects from medications, may be disruptive to a teen’s self-image. Research has shown that teens with chronic illness that does not disrupt body image have fewer problems with low self-esteem.
Questions have been raised in regard to the relationship, if any, between self-esteem and the playing of video games. While an association was found between frequent arcade play and lower self-esteem in high school boys, it is not at all clear if the cause and effect relationship is real. Further study is needed to clarify any associations.
Lesbian and gay youth are more likely to develop low self-esteem even though negative societal attitudes toward these youth are changing. Subjected to name-calling, abuse, discrimination, taunting and ridicule by peers, lesbian and gay adolescents may become isolated, depressed, suicidal and fail in their academics. This obviously may profoundly impact their self-esteem.
Teens who have anorexia have positive self-esteem that is based on their low weight. Treating clinicians aim to increase the weight, and this potentially could lower the teen’s self-esteem. This is one of the conflicts that make the treatment of adolescents with eating disorders so difficult.
Teens develop a sense of self-identity with input from both parents as well as from the relationship between the parents. When divorce occurs, that identity is disrupted. As a result, the teen’s self-esteem may also be disrupted. During a traumatic divorce, an adolescent may experience hurt from the pain inflicted on either parent. This may lower his or her self-esteem and be an impediment to a future intimate relationship.
Self-esteem may be impacted by socioeconomic or immigration status. Teens whose families are homeless have been shown to be at higher risk for low self-esteem. Positive self-esteem may be promoted for certain adolescents who have immigrated by supporting successful adjustment and adaptation to the new country. Increasing connectiveness to peers will enhance the maturing process that friendship allows. Research has shown that teens who immigrate to the United States, but return to their country of origin during vacations may suffer from self-esteem issues because of fractured relationship with peers in both countries.
Parents have a profound effect on a teen’s self-esteem. Research has shown that there are three factors associated with good self-esteem in adolescents:
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Acceptance by parents
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Limit setting clearly defined by parents
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Parental respect and allowance for latitude of action within the limits
Warmth, companionship and acceptance of the teen’s perspective are parental qualities associated with positive self-esteem in adolescents. In setting limits, parents who train teens to be independent and have reasonable limits are thought to facilitate healthy development. Parents who are hostile, restrictive and nonsupportive may inhibit healthy development. Parents who are overly rigid or overly permissive in setting limits for teens inhibit healthy development according to research. Each of these characteristics may impact on a teen’s self-esteem.
In addition to immigrant and homeless youth, adolescents who are raised in affluent families may also be at high risk for low self-esteem. Teens whose parents are successful, ambitious and committed to social, professional and recreational pursuits may suffer low self-esteem. Due to the busy outside the home schedule, there is no time for family centered activities and little time to nurture the adolescent-parent relationship. Money becomes a substitute for parents’ time.
Adolescents who are raised in this environment present a façade of confidence, but may be totally insecure. There is low regard for the teen’s private self. Teens may not develop a true value system that reaps rewards from relationships between family, peers or other social contacts. As a result, they may not be able to pass through the developmental steps in order to have a positive self-esteem. Some of these privileged adolescents become involved in risky behaviors including substance abuse, promiscuity or delinquency. Others may become depressed or suicidal. All of these factors can contribute to continuing low self-esteem.
Related topics:
Academics, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, body image, chronic illness, cross-cultural issues, delinquency, depression, disabilities, divorce, gay and transsexual adolescents, growth and development, learning disorders, risk-taking, sexual intercourse, substance abuse
