Self-esteem refers to an individuals evaluation of the self and refers to how positive or negative a person feels about him or herself. Traditionally, a distinction is made between state and trait self-esteem. State self-esteem refers to how a person feels about him or herself at a particular moment in time. Trait self-esteem refers to how a person generally feels about him or herself. A variety of research suggests that self-evaluations are based on interactions with others. They argue that a sense of the self and is worth is developed based on how other people treat the individual and that people who receive praise or acceptance from others develop positive beliefs about themselves. Similar to this, is the argument by theorists that people develop beliefs about themselves from interactions with their parents during childhood.

High self-esteem is often viewed as an important component of psychological well-being and low trait self-esteem is viewed as a predictor of emotional and behavioral problems. Low self-esteem is also related to a number of high-risk behaviours including, drug and alcohol use, antisocial behaviours and sexual risk behaviours. Other examples found through research include low self-esteem associated with inconsistent condom use and decreased sexual communication among partners. However, high self-esteem is not always more adaptive. Studies have linked high-self esteem to more risky sexual behaviour, both in terms of number of sexual partners and inconsistent condom use.

Self-esteem, defined as an attitude regarding one's self-worth is affected by many factors, some of which include development, parenting style, internalizing symptoms, and genes. It has been show to be of great consequence throughout the lifespan. In childhood and adolescence, low self-esteem has been linked with psychiatric diagnoses such as major depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and suicidal ideation. Additional problems of negative self-esteem include internalizing problems, aggression, conduct problems, eating disorders and decreased motivation and energy. Positive self-esteem on the other hand is associated with protection against stress, better coping strategies, increased motivation and positive emotions.

Research conducted in the 1990s found that secure personal relationships and task accomplishments were the main components to the development of high self-esteem. In women, research has shown that their feelings regarding different aspects of their bodies (e.g., body build, waist, cheekbones) predicted self-esteem. For men, their feelings about their faces and physical reflexes were good indicators of self-esteem.

Normal development early is also a key determinant of self-esteem because research shows that consistent trends of self-esteem are found across the lifespan. This suggest that if high-self esteem is developed in childhood, it is more likely to stay high through adulthood. Development of cognitive capabilities, social awareness and social freedom all contribute to one's self-esteem at different ages.

Feelings of low self-esteem at any age can lead to negative consequences. Dealing with feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth is important to leading a healthier and balanced lifestyle.

Jim Moustakas
http://www.mylifeassistant.com