Self Esteem and Susceptibility towards Mental Illness
Abstract
Self-esteem plays a key role as a protective factor and a non-specific risk factor in physical and mental health. Appropriate level of self-esteem leads to a better mental as well as physical health. Negative approach towards self when trying something new or inability to appreciate your own achievements reflects on poor mental health. Destructive criticism or fault-finding attitude makes it difficult to find satisfaction.
Susceptibility towards mental illness and negative self-esteem as well as a mentally healthy life and positive self-esteem have a positive correlation. In other words, emotionally well-adjusted individuals have positive self-esteem and vice versa.
Introduction
Self-esteem is the evaluative and affective dimension of the self-concept, and is considered as equivalent to self-regard, self-estimation and self-worth (Harter, 1999).
Positive self-esteem is not only seen as a basic feature of mental health, but also as a protective factor that contributes to better health and positive social behaviour, through its role as a buffer against the impact of negative influences. It is seen to actively promote healthy functioning as reflected in life aspects such as achievements, success, satisfaction, and the ability to cope with diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Research and Studies
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV), negative or unstable self-perceptions are a key component in the diagnostic criteria of major depressive disorders and personality disorders. Negative self-esteem is also found to be a risk factor, leading to maladjustment and even escapism. Lacking trust in themselves, individuals become unable to handle daily problems which, in turn, reduces the ability to achieve maximum potential.
Self-appraisal and self-esteem
Campbell in 1990 did a study where he told individuals to appraise some events[1] . He found the appraisals to be closely linked to their self-esteem. People with low self-esteem expressed their daily events in a less positive light. They also rated negative events as personally very important and as globally internal attributions. Whereas, individuals with high self-esteem made more stable and positive attributions to the given events. Subjects with low self-esteem rated positive events as mere luck.
Individuals with low self-esteem report depressive state often. Dimensions of attributional styles, depression, self-esteem are linked as per the growing evidence.
Depression
Low self-esteem from childhood and adolescence till early adulthood was found to be a predictor of depression by a study conducted. [2]
Study shows that self-esteem impacts more on cumulative stress than social support. It is a buffer for stress even with inadequate social support. [3]
While reflecting on the role of life events and difficulties, the level of stress interacted with negative self-esteem predicted depression. Whereas, self-esteem alone was not a direct contributor. [4]
Research indicates that teaching children to challenge their pessimistic thoughts whilst increasing positive subjective thinking (and bolstering self-esteem) can reduce the risk of pathologies such as depression. [5]
In addition, empirical studies have shown that bolstering self-esteem in adults reduces anxiety. [6]
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Eating Disorder
The significant influence of self-esteem on body image has led to programs in which the promotion of self-esteem is used as a main preventive tool in eating disorders. [7]
Researchers have reported low self-esteem as a risk factor in the development of eating disorders in female school children and adolescents. [8],[9]
Low self-esteem also seems predictive of the poor outcome of treatment in such disorders, as has been found in a recent 4-year prospective follow-up study among adolescent in-patients with bulimic characteristics. [10]
Anxiety and Defense mechanism
Ginsburg and his colleagues observed a low level of self-esteem in highly socially anxious children. Self-esteem was shown to serve the fundamental psychological function of buffering anxiety, with the pursuit of self-esteem as a defensive avoidance tool against basic human fears. This mechanism of defense has become evident in research with primary and secondary school children. [11], [12]
ADHD
Symptoms often becomes evident in early childhood and persist throughout adulthood. [13] It has been shown that self-esteem is lower among children with ADHD than children without the diagnosis and untreated ADHD is associated with low global self-esteem. [14],[15],[16]
Discussion
Self-esteem impacts and influences stress, depression, ADHD, eating disorders, anxiety as well as susceptibility to all of these. Studies show that self-esteem, if bolstered in the early childhood, makes one resilient towards not only clinical conditions but also overall negative outlook which induces anxiety.
Conclusion
Self-esteem is negatively correlated to both anxiety/depression symptoms and attention problems. The growing evidence shows that self-esteem helps in the recovery after sever illnesses. Self-esteem is positively correlated to happiness, satisfaction and an overall positive outlook of life.
References
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