The Development of Self-Esteem
Open accessAbstract
In this article, we review new insights gained from recent longitudinal studies examining the development of self-esteem and its influence on important life outcomes. The evidence supports the following three conclusions. First, self-esteem increases from adolescence to middle adulthood, peaks at about age 50 to 60 years, and then decreases at an accelerating pace into old age; moreover, there are no cohort differences in the self-esteem trajectory from adolescence to old age. Second, self-esteem is a relatively stable, but by no means immutable, trait; individuals with relatively high (or low) self-esteem at one stage of life are likely to have relatively high (or low) self-esteem decades later. Third, high self-esteem prospectively predicts success and well-being in life domains such as relationships, work, and health. Given the increasing evidence that self-esteem has important real-world consequences, the topic of self-esteem development is of considerable societal significance.
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The increase in self-esteem from adolescence to young adulthood is a robust finding, whereas findings for childhood to adolescence and old age are mixed.
“Whereas the increase from adolescence to young adulthood seems to be a robust finding, there are some mixed findings for childhood to adolescence (decline vs. stability; Trzesniewski et al., 2013) and old age (differences in the starting age and magnitude of decline; Wagner, Gerstorf, et al., 2013;see Orth & Robins, 2014).”
From Self‐esteem development and life events: A review and integrative process framework (2022) · cites this paper as Orth & Robins, 2014
The major current limitation in self-esteem development research is the understanding of processes of change.
“The major current limitation in the research area of self-esteem development is our understanding of the processes of change.”
From Self‐esteem development and life events: A review and integrative process framework (2022) · cites this paper as Orth & Robins, 2014
Life events have lasting effects on personality traits because they can modify, interrupt, or redirect life trajectories by altering individuals' feelings, thoughts, and behavior.
“Such theories propose that life events have lasting effects on personality traits because they can modify, interrupt, or redirect life trajectories by altering individuals' feelings, thoughts, and behavior”
From Life Events and Personality Trait Change. (2018) · cites this paper as Orth & Robins, 2014
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“Age seems to be one criti cal factor, based on metaanalytic findings of the develop mental trajectory of selfesteem (Orth et al., 2018; Orth & Robins, 2014).”
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“On the other hand, self-esteem constitutes an individual ’ s concept of himself, covering two fundamental aspects: self-valuation and recognition of particular abilities (Orth & Robins, 2014).”
- Authors
- Orth, U., & Robins, R. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Bern (CH)
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Venue
- Current Directions in Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2014-10
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 381-387
- ISSN
- 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8721
- OpenAlex
- W2165172514
- Cited by
- 1,004
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 133 · 2025: 154 · 2024: 115 · 2023: 107 · 2022: 102 · 2021: 85 · 2020: 80 · 2019: 68 · 2018: 64 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 36.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion)
- Open Access CRIS of the University of Bern
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- self-esteem, self-esteem development, life course, adolescence, midlife, old age, cohort differences, trait stability, life outcomes, relationships, work, well-being
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