Unfortunately, statistically significant research on self-esteem has been difficult to find, and many pscychologists explain the lack of such research due to the variety of definitions of self-esteem, the many self-esteem measures being used, and the multiple factors influencing self-esteem. However, most researchers and psychologists agree that self-esteem can and does effect overall success. Additionally, many agree that levels of success among adults can be tied to their levels of self-esteem as teen-agers. Low levels of self-esteem as teenagers can cause us to sell ourselves short as adults and impede our overall success.
Here is some of the research I found found… although I’m always searching for more.
According to Confidencecoalition.org (who referenced the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty and the Girl Scout Research Institute)…
- 90% of all women want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance.
- 81% of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat.
- Three-fourths of girls with low self-esteem engage in negative activities, such as disordered eating, bullying, smoking or drinking.
- Only 2% of women think they are beautiful.
Dove® research (Dove Research: The Real Truth About Beauty: Revisited) shows the importance of addressing girls’ anxiety about looks, as there is a universal increase in beauty pressure and a decrease in girls’ confidence as they grow older. Key findings from their latest research include:
- Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful (up from 2% in 2004)
- Only 11% of girls globally are comfortable using the word “beautiful” to describe themselves
- 80% of women agree that every woman has something about her that is beautiful but do not see their own beauty
- More than half (54%) of women globally agree that when it comes to how they look, they are their own worst beauty critic
Teen age girls with low self-esteem are three times less likely to delay sexual intercourse than girls with high self-esteem. Source: http://www.medicine.indiana.edu/iu_medicine/02_fall/teenSex.html
Low self-esteem has been linked to violent behavior, school dropout rates, teenage pregnancy, suicide, and low academic achievement. Source: Alexandra Delis-Abrams, Ph.D. http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Abrams1.html
Low self-esteem is the universal common denominator among literally all people suffering from addictions to any and all mind altering substances such as alcohol, not genes. (A False Stigma: Low Self-Esteem the True Disease, 1996)
Hayes and Fors (1990) report that low self-esteem is often the reason why young girls engage in premarital sexual relationships, and is more likely to be responsible for teen pregnancies than any other single factor. Studies indicate that a typical profile of young girls who become pregnant include:
- Being a poor or disengaged student
- Having low self-esteem
- Lacking basic skills
- Looking for someone to love her or something to love
- Frequently coming from a dysfunctional family or been sexually abused.
- Source: http://www.self-esteem-international.org/content/5-research.htm
As a woman who once suffered from low-self esteem, these are telling data points and I want to do everything I can to help women (young and old) renew their minds and learn to see their beauty within. Will you join me?
Please share this website with anyone you know who may suffer from low-self esteem. Feel free to leverage any of the free resources here to study yourself or with others in an effort to build your own confidence and self esteem. Together we will change lives… one heart at a time.