Children’s levels of contingent self-esteem and social and emotional outcomes |
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| Authors: | Jonathan S B Moore Marjorie Smith |
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| Institution: | 1. Hertfordshire Educational Psychology Service, Apsley Two, Hemel Hempstead, UK;2. UCL Institute of Education, Thomas Coram Research Unit, London, UK |
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| Abstract: | Contingent self-esteem (CSE) describes the degree to which self-esteem is dependent on meeting day-to-day appraisals from oneself and others. This will vary between individuals, ranging from lower to higher CSE. A lower CSE is related to a range of adaptive social and emotional outcomes in adolescents and young adults. This study explores children’s CSE and how this associates with behavioural outcomes. A total of 280 children between the ages of 9 and 11 years completed a composite questionnaire on aspects of their self-esteem and behaviour. Children’s class teachers completed behavioural outcome questionnaires for a random sample of 100 of these children. Based on teachers’ and children’s scores, high levels of global self-esteem were associated with lower CSE and fewer behavioural difficulties. CSE domains of social feedback and physical appearance retained significant associations with behavioural outcomes after controlling for global self-esteem. This may relate to the degree that children depend on the perceived evaluations of others. Implications for educational psychologists are highlighted. |
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| Keywords: | Contingent self-esteem social and emotional outcomes preadolescence reflected appraisals growth mindset |
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