It is common knowledge that what affects self-esteem is more likely to be the result of a combination of factors, rather than any one thing. In other words, it is impossible to say what your own level of self-esteem is, because it varies from person to person. However, there are some generalizations about the situations which affect self-esteem. In most cases, these are positive experiences that are valued in the society. On the other hand, negative experiences or events have a profound negative impact on the self-image of an individual.
There has been new research that helps explain why specific domains of personality are related to self-esteem. The first domain involves the need to have certain qualities in order to succeed in certain activities. Self-esteem is tied to the ability to excel at work and at school, in terms of being productive. In the new research, this domain of personality is found to exist along with the physical appearance self-esteem. These two facets, or components, of personality are related to each other.
Research on what affects self-esteem found out that those who are not able to excel at academic activities or who are not gifted in any way are the ones who have low self-esteem. Those who have high self-esteem are often perceived as highly intelligent, and they are also considered to have good traits regarding physical appearance. A person with low self-esteem is seen as physically attractive, but does not have the ability to excel in academic activities. The relationship between low self-esteem and physical appearance self-esteem is most prevalent among women. Researchers have found that there are genetic and environmental factors that contribute to this domain of personality.
Another domain of personality where the self-esteem and the maturity principle overlap is in the domain of the general self-esteem. Those who get older are those who are less likely to change and adapt. As we age, changes occur and this makes us change our behavior. This can make it harder for us to adapt to new challenges.
The findings of the present research on what affects self-esteem in terms of getting older and the general self-esteem suggest that people with higher levels of physical appearance self-esteem tend to be more adaptive. This means that they are better able to adjust and do well in life. People with lower physical appearance self-esteem are more impulsive and they have poorer coping skills.
Self-esteem has also been found to affect academic performance. For example, students with higher self-esteem are better prepared for academic testing and they show higher reading comprehension skills, according to studies. Self-esteem can also affect athletic performance. It has been found that younger children are the ones who perform better in sports. This is because they believe that they are more capable of doing well at the game. On the other hand, older people who have low self-esteem are not confident and they tend to underachieve at sports.
Research has also shown that physical appearance self-esteem may affect emotional well-being. For example, older people with low physical appearance self-esteem are the ones who suffer from greater stress and they are at a higher risk for depressive disorders. These disorders may then lead to unhealthy eating habits and they can then develop serious illnesses. However, the beneficial effects of self-esteem on overall health and well-being remain a controversial topic.
What affects self-esteem in the long term and what are the possible consequences on health and well-being? There are a lot of theories on this topic, but they have yet to be proven beyond doubt. The good news is that the first step to improving your self-esteem is to identify what affects your self-image and change it if necessary.