Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research Article

The role of self-esteem in the development of psychiatric problems: a three-year prospective study in a clinical sample of adolescents

Authors: Ingvild Oxås Henriksen, Ingunn Ranøyen, Marit Sæbø Indredavik, Frode Stenseng

Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Self-esteem is fundamentally linked to mental health, but its’ role in trajectories of psychiatric problems is unclear. In particular, few studies have addressed the role of self-esteem in the development of attention problems. Hence, we examined the role of global self-esteem in the development of symptoms of anxiety/depression and attention problems, simultaneously, in a clinical sample of adolescents while accounting for gender, therapy, and medication.

Methods

Longitudinal data were obtained from a sample of 201 adolescents—aged 13–18—referred to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Trondheim, Norway. In the baseline study, self-esteem, and symptoms of anxiety/depression and attention problems were measured by means of self-report. Participants were reassessed 3 years later, with a participation rate of 77% in the clinical sample.

Results

Analyses showed that high self-esteem at baseline predicted fewer symptoms of both anxiety/depression and attention problems 3 years later after controlling for prior symptom levels, gender, therapy (or not), and medication.

Conclusions

Results highlight the relevance of global self-esteem in the clinical practice, not only with regard to emotional problems, but also to attention problems. Implications for clinicians, parents, and others are discussed.
Literature
1.
Baumeister RF, Campbell JD, Krueger JI, Vohs KD. Does high self-esteem cause better performance, interpersonal success, happiness, or healthier lifestyles? Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2003;4(1):1–44.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Rosenberg M. Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press; 1965.CrossRef
3.
Britt TW, Doherty K, Schlenker BR. Self-evaluation as a function of self-esteem, performance feedback, and self-presentational role. J Soc Clin Psychol. 1997;16(4):463–83.CrossRef
4.
Leary MR, Tambor ES, Terdal SK, Downs DL. Self-esteem as an interpersonal monitor: the sociometer hypothesis. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1995;68(3):518–30.CrossRef
5.
Orth U, Robins RW, Widaman KF. Life-span development of self-esteem and its effects on important life outcomes. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2012;102(6):1271–88.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Leary MR, Schreindorfer LS, Haupt AL. The role of low self-esteem in emotional and behavioral problems: why is low self-esteem dysfunctional? J Soc Clin Psychol. 1995;14(3):297–314.CrossRef
7.
Kernis MH, Grannemann BD, Mathis LC. Stability of self-esteem as a moderator of the relation between level of self-esteem and depression. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991;61(1):80–4.CrossRef
8.
Telles S, Singh N, Bhardwaj AK, Kumar A, Balkrishna A. Effect of yoga or physical exercise on physical, cognitive and emotional measures in children: a randomized controlled trial. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2013;7(1):37.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Rosenberg M, Schooler C, Schoenbach C, Rosenberg F. Global self-esteem and specific self-esteem: different concepts, different outcomes. Am Sociol Rev. 1995;60(1):141–56.CrossRef
10.
Stenseng F, Dalskau LH. Passion, self-esteem, and the role of comparative performance evaluation. J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2010;32(6):881–94.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Greenberg J, Solomon S, Pyszczynski T, Rosenblatt A, Burling J, Lyon D, Simon L, Pinel E. Why do people need self-esteem? Converging evidence that self-esteem serves an anxiety-buffering function. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1992;63(6):913–22.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Ryan RM, Brown KW. Why we don’t need self-esteem: on fundamental needs, contingent love, and mindfulness. Psych Inq. 2003;14(1):71–6.
13.
Gentile B, Grabe S, Dolan-Pascoe B, Twenge JM, Wells BE, Maitino A. Gender differences in domain-specific self-esteem: a meta-analysis. Rev Gen Psychol. 2009;13(1):34–45.CrossRef
14.
Bennett DH, Holmes DS. Influence of denial (situation redefinition) and projection on anxiety associated with threat to self-esteem. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1975;32(5):915–21.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Burish TG, Houston BK. Causal projection, similarity projection, and coping with threat to self-esteem. J Pers. 1979;47(1):57–70.CrossRef
16.
Greenberg J, Pyszczynski T, Solomon S. The causes and consequences of a need for self-esteem: a terror management theory. In: Baumeister RF, editor. Public self and private self. New York: Springer; 1986. p. 189–212.CrossRef
17.
Orth U, Robins RW, Roberts BW. Low self-esteem prospectively predicts depression in adolescence and young adulthood. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2008;95(3):695–708.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Sowislo JF, Orth U. Does low self-esteem predict depression and anxiety? A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Psychol Bull. 2013;139(1):213–40.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Orth U, Robins RW. Understanding the link between low self-esteem and depression. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2013;22(6):455–60.CrossRef
20.
Wehmeier PM, Schacht A, Barkley RA. Social and emotional impairment in children and adolescents with ADHD and the impact on quality of life. J Adolesc Health. 2010;46(3):209–17.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Pscyhol Rev. 1977;84(2):191–215.CrossRef
22.
Schwarzer R, Bässler J, Kwiatek P, Schröder K. The assessment of optimistic self-beliefs: comparison of the German, Spanish, and Chinese versions of the General Self-efficacy Scale. Appl Psychol. 1997;46(1):69–88.CrossRef
23.
Caye A, Rocha TBM, Anselmi L, Murray J, Menezes AM, Barros FC, Swanson JM. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder trajectories from childhood to young adulthood: evidence from a birth cohort supporting a late-onset syndrome. JAMA Psych. 2016;73(7):705–12.CrossRef
24.
Biederman J, Petty CR, Clarke A, Lomedico A, Faraone SV. Predictors of persistent ADHD: an 11-year follow-up study. J Psychiatr Res. 2011;45(2):150–5.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Faraone SV, Biederman J, Mick E. The age-dependent decline of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis of follow-up studies. Psychol Med. 2006;36(02):159–65.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Hechtman L, Weiss G, Perlman T. Hyperactives as young adults: self-esteem and social skills. Can J Psychiatry. 1980;25:478–83.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Mazzone L, Postorino V, Reale L, Guarnera M, Mannino V, Armando M, Fatta L, De Peppo L, Vicari S. Self-esteem evaluation in children and adolescents suffering from ADHD. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2013;9:96–102.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
28.
Harpin V, Mazzone L, Raynaud J-P, Kahle J, Hodgkins P. Long-term outcomes of ADHD a systematic review of self-esteem and social function. J Atten Disord. 2016;20(4):295–305.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Slomkowski C, Klein RG, Mannuzza S. Is self-esteem an important outcome in hyperactive children? J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1995;23(3):303–15.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Blascovich J, Tomaka J. Measures of self-esteem. In: Robinson JP, Shaver PR, Wrightsman LS, editors. Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes. New York: Elsevier; 1991. p. 115–60.CrossRef
31.
Robins RW, Hendin HM, Trzesniewski KH. Measuring global self-esteem: construct validation of a single-item measure and the rosenberg self-esteem scale. Personal Soc Psychol Bull. 2001;27(2):151–61.CrossRef
32.
von Soest T. Rosenbergs selvfølelsesskala: validering av en norsk oversettelse (rosenberg’s self-esteem scale: validation of a Norwegian translation). Tidsskrift Norsk Psykologforening. 2005;42:226–8.
33.
Schmitt DP, Allik J. Simultaneous administration of the rosenberg self-esteem scale in 53 nations: exploring the universal and culture-specific features of global self-esteem. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2005;89(4):623–42.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Achenbach TM, Rescorla LA. Manual for ASEBA school-age forms & profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth & Families; 2001.
35.
Kline RB. Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. 3rd ed. New York City: Guilford Press; 2011.
36.
Ranøyen I, Stenseng F, Klöckner CA, Wallander J, Jozefiak T. Familial aggregation of anxiety and depression in the community: the role of adolescents’ self-esteem and physical activity level (the HUNT Study). BMC Public Health. 2015;15:78.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
37.
38.
Dumont M, Provost MA. Resilience in adolescents: protective role of social support, coping strategies, self-esteem, and social activities on experience of stress and depression. J Youth Adolesc. 1999;28(3):343–63.CrossRef
39.
Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer; 1984.
40.
Seiffge-Krenke I. Causal links between stressful events, coping style, and adolescent symptomatology. J Adolesc. 2000;23(6):675–91.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Thoits PA. Stress, coping, and social support processes: where are we? What next? J Health Soc Behav. 1995;35:53–79.CrossRef
42.
Young S. Coping strategies used by adults with ADHD. Personal Ind Diff. 2005;38(4):809–16.CrossRef
43.
Waschbusch DA, Andrade BF, King S. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In: Essau CA, editor. Child and adolescent psychopathology: theoretical and clinical implications. New York: Routledge; 2006. p. 52–77.
44.
Tseng W-L, Kawabata Y, Gau SSF, Crick NR. Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and peer functioning: a transactional model of development. J Abn Child Psychol. 2014;42(8):1353–65.CrossRef
45.
Stenseng F, Belsky J, Skalicka V, Wichstrøm L. Social exclusion predicts impaired self-regulation: a 2-year longitudinal panel study including the transition from preschool to school. J Pers. 2015;83(2):212–20.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Konrad K, Eickhoff SB. Is the ADHD brain wired differently? A review on structural and functional connectivity in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Hum Brain Mapp. 2010;31(6):904–16.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Larsson J-O, Larsson H, Lichtenstein P. Genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change of ADHD symptoms between 8 and 13 years of age: a longitudinal twin study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psych. 2004;43(10):1267–75.CrossRef
48.
Derdikman-Eiron R, Indredavik MS, Bratberg GH, Taraldsen G, Bakken IJ, Colton M. Gender differences in subjective well-being, self-esteem and psychosocial functioning in adolescents with symptoms of anxiety and depression: findings from the Nord-Trøndelag health study. Scand J Psychol. 2011;52(3):261–7.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Ranøyen I, Klöckner CA, Wallander J, Jozefiak T. Associations between internalizing problems in adolescent daughters versus sons and mental health problems in mothers versus fathers (The HUNT study). J Child Fam Stud. 2014;24:2008–20.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
The role of self-esteem in the development of psychiatric problems: a three-year prospective study in a clinical sample of adolescents
Authors
Ingvild Oxås Henriksen
Ingunn Ranøyen
Marit Sæbø Indredavik
Frode Stenseng
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1753-2000
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-017-0207-y

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 1/2017 Go to the issue

Research Article

Serious juvenile offenders: classification into subgroups based on static and dynamic charateristics

Research Article

Child Protection Service interference in childhood and the relation with mental health problems and delinquency in young adulthood: a latent class analysis study

Research Article

Responding to safety concerns and chronic needs: trends over time

Research article

Diagnostic profiles and predictors of treatment outcome among children and adolescents attending a national psychiatric hospital in Botswana

Review

Tourette syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders: a comprehensive review

Research Article

Child maltreatment in Germany: prevalence rates in the general population