EFFECTS OF SELF-ESTEEM ON MENTAL HEALTH

ABSTRACT

A study on self-confidence and mental health is important in order to understand how these two
concepts are related. Self-confidence is a person's overall evaluation of their own worth. Mental health
is a state of well-being in which an individual is able to cope with the demands of everyday life. It is
important to study how self-confidence affects mental health because low self-confidence has been
linked to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. This research mainly focuses on
studies done showing the impact of self-esteem on one’s mental health.

Introduction

In general, mental health refers to a person's psychological well-being and their ability to cope with day-
to-day stressors. It is important to remember that mental health is not the absence of mental illness, but
rather a state of overall psychological well-being. Mental health is a state of well-being in which an
individual is able to cope with normal stresses in life, can work productively, and is able to make
meaningful contributions to his or her community. There are many factors that influence mental health.
Mental health is influenced by our genes, our environment, and our lifestyles. Our genes play a role in
our mental health. Mental illness can be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Our environment includes the people we interact with, our home, our work, and our community. Our
environment can influence our mental health in positive or negative ways. Our lifestyle choices can also
influence our mental health. Lifestyle choices include diet, exercise, and sleep. These choices can impact
our mental health in positive or negative ways.

Mental health problems can develop from a combination of biological and psychological factors.
Biological factors that may contribute to mental health problems include, Genetics: Mental health
problems can run in families, and certain genes may increase your risk of developing a mental health
problem. Brain structure and function: Mental health problems can be associated with changes in the
structure and function of the brain. Medical conditions: Some medical conditions, such as thyroid
problems, can cause or worsen mental health problems. Psychological factors that may contribute to
mental health problems include: Stressful life events: Traumatic or stressful life events, such as abuse,
the death of a loved one, or financial problems, can trigger or worsen mental health problems. Cognitive
biases: Mental health problems can be caused or worsened by distorted thinking patterns, such as
negative thinking, or cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias. Personality: Certain personality traits,
such as perfectionism or neuroticism, can increase your risk of developing a mental health problem.

Self-esteem is "confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect." Self-esteem is the opinion we
have of ourselves. When we have a positive self-esteem, we feel valued and accept ourselves as we are.
When we have a negative self-esteem, we see ourselves in a negative way and do not accept ourselves.
Our self-esteem affects the way we act and how we relate to others. A low self-esteem can lead to social
withdrawal and an unwillingness to communicate. The general feeling is that others are not interested
in what we have to say and that we are not good enough.

Low self-esteem can lead to a number of problems, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and
substance abuse. Anxiety is an intense sense of apprehension, often accompanied by symptoms of
nervousness and hyperactivity, that is brought on by feelings of insecurity and fear. The feeling of
anxiety may occur in response to a real or perceived threat, such as a physical or psychological danger.
Anxiety may be mild or intense and may last only for a few minutes or for several weeks. Anxiety can
cause a person to feel restless, irritable, and on edge. It can make it difficult to concentrate, and can
cause sleep problems. Over time, anxiety can take a toll on a person's mental health, causing them to
feel depressed or even leading to suicidal thoughts.

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities
that one normally enjoys. People with depression may also experience a loss of energy, sleep
disturbances, and changes in appetite. Depression can interfere with a person’s ability to work, study,
and take care of themselves. It can lead to a decline in mental health, as well as increased anxiety and
stress. This can impact a person's ability to think clearly, make decisions, and cope with day-to-day life.
Additionally, depression can lead to social isolation and withdrawal, which can further impact mental
health.

In this study, we are going to review different case studies showing the effect self-esteem has on one’s
mental health.

Case Study

Individuals with low self-esteem tend to be unstable, hypersensitive and focus more on self-defense
against threats rather than actualizing their abilities and others. Recent studies show that high self-
esteem is significantly associated with less violence (Fleming, Horowitz, 1999), while gang membership
and violence was higher on people with low self-esteem (Schoen, 1999). A questionnaire carried out
among adolescents in high schools showed that low self-esteem was one of the key risk factors for
problem behavior (Jessor,1998). A nationwide study of bullying behavior in Ireland showed that children
involved in bullying either as bullies, victims, or both had lower self-esteem than other children.
(Schoen, 1999).

Self-esteem is a protective factor against mental health problems. That is, adolescents with high self-
esteem are more likely to bounce back from setbacks and have the resilience to cope with stressors.
This may be due to a number of factors, including having a strong sense of self-worth and a positive
outlook on life. A child with positive self-esteem is more likely to be successful in school, have healthier
relationships, and be overall happier than a child with negative self-esteem. A longitudinal study
conducted among elementary school children showed that children who had high self-esteem had
higher cognitive aptitudes (Adams, 1996).

There is a strong correlation between self-esteem and depression. Individuals with low self-esteem are
more likely to experience depression than those with high self-esteem. This is because low self-esteem
can lead to feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy, which can trigger depression. However, studies
have also shown that high self-esteem can also cause depression. A recent study conducted by the
University of Georgia among 100 students who either had a ‘fragile’ high self-esteem or a ‘secure’ high
self-esteem, showed that students with a `fragile’ high self-esteem were verbally abusive or defensive
which reflected in mental health problems such as anxiety and depression (Kernis,2008).

There is a strong relationship between self-esteem and anxiety. People with low self-esteem are more
likely to experience anxiety than those with high self-esteem. This is because people with low self-
esteem are more likely to worry about what other people think of them and whether they are good
enough. A study among 1149 students in Cantho City in Vietnam on self-esteem, anxiety, depression,
suicide, and educational stress. The results showed that there was an association between lower self-
esteem and increased anxiety (Nguyen, Wright & Dedding, 2019).

A study collected from 10 Government and private schools in Rawalpindi to explore the various factors
that affect student performance showed that self-esteem had a positive impact on performance
(Shahzad, Ahmed&Affari, 2012). It has been shown that people with high self-esteem are more
productive than those with low self-esteem. This is because people with high self-esteem have a greater
sense of self-efficacy, which leads them to believe that they can accomplish tasks and goals. As a result,
they are more likely to put forth the effort required to achieve success. Additionally, people with high
self-esteem are more resilient in the face of setbacks, and are more likely to persist in the face of
difficulties.

Conclusion

Self-esteem and mental health are two important topics that are often discussed together. This is
because they are both important factors in overall well-being. Both self-esteem and mental health can
affect a person’s quality of life. Additionally, mental health problems can sometimes lead to low self-
esteem. Therefore, it is important to be aware of both self-esteem and mental health in order to
maintain good overall health.
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