Positive relationships boost self-esteem, and vice versa

Robust reciprocal link found across life span

September 26, 2019

Science Daily/American Psychological Association

Does having close friends boost your self-esteem, or does having high self-esteem influence the quality of your friendships?

 Both, according to a meta-analysis of more than two decades of research, published by the American Psychological Association.

 "For the first time, we have a systematic answer to a key question in the field of self-esteem research: Whether and to what extent a person's social relationships influence his or her self-esteem development, and vice versa, and at what ages," said study author Michelle A. Harris, PhD, of The University of Texas at Austin. "The answer to what age groups is across the life span."

The research was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Harris and her co-author, Ulrich Orth, PhD, of the University of Bern, analyzed 52 studies involving more than 47,000 participants (54% female) looking at either the effect of self-esteem on social relationships over time or the reverse effect. The studies, all published between 1992 and 2016, included multiple countries (e.g., 30 samples from the United States, four from Switzerland, three from Germany, two each from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Greece, Russia and Sweden). Participants were 60% white, 2% Hispanic/Latino, 12% other predominantly another ethnicity and 19% mixed ethnicities. Samples ranged from early childhood to late adulthood.

The authors found that positive social relationships, social support and social acceptance help shape the development of self-esteem in people over time across ages 4 to 76. The authors also found a significant effect in the reverse direction. While earlier research had yielded inconsistent findings, the meta-analysis supports the classic and contemporary theories of the influence of self-esteem on social connections and the influence of social connections on self-esteem, according to Harris. The findings were the same after accounting for gender and ethnicity.

"The reciprocal link between self-esteem and social relationships implies that the effects of a positive feedback loop accumulate over time and could be substantial as people go through life," according to Harris.

The authors discuss the idea that positive relationships with parents may cultivate self-esteem in children, which leads to more positive relationships with peers in adolescence, which may further strengthen the self-esteem of emerging adults, and so on into late adulthood. However, the field is still in need of an integrated theory that can explain whether relationships have such a cumulative effect across life, or whether certain relationships become particularly important at certain ages.

When self-esteem or quality of social relationships is low, Harris noted, it can negatively affect the other factor, and set off a downward spiral, making clinical interventions especially important to offset this potentially adverse development.

"The fact that the effect did not differ significantly among studies with different sample characteristics strengthens confidence in the robustness of our findings," said Harris.

"We found a limited number of longitudinal studies on self-esteem and specific relationships in adulthood as well as studies using measures other than self-report, so our findings only begin to speak to these groups, and we look forward to future work oriented towards filling these gaps."

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190926092416.htm

Learning a New Skill at Any Age: How to Get Started

Content provided by: Cheryl Conklin, Wellness Central, www.wellnesscentral.info

Learning a new skill isn’t always easy, but it can build confidence and self-esteem, and you might find something you truly enjoy doing. There’s even the potential to find a new hobby that will help you earn extra money; some people have changed careers after finding that they have a talent for a particular activity. However, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to have small goals at first as you begin to build your confidence; this will reduce your stress or anxiety level and allow you to simply enjoy the process. 

There are many ways to find a new skill or hobby. You might start online, where there are tons of options available to you, from learning a new language to learning how to play an instrument. Sit down and think about what your interests are and what you’d most like to try, and do some research on what the associated costs and risks are.

Keep reading for tips on learning a new skill at any age, as well as what the benefitsare.

Let Technology Work for You

These days, technology can be the perfect doorway for people who want to learn something new. From websites that feature video tutorials and detailed descriptions on how to accomplish just about anything to apps that teachyou different languages, there are countless options available. The beauty of this is that you can usually access this information from any device -- any time.

If you plan to use your phone more often and in tandem with your new skill or hobby, don't dig yourself into a hole with overage charges because you spent hours on Duolingo. Instead, look to your cell phone provider to find a plan that better suits your needs. Many services offer tiered plansthat are wallet-friendly and provide enough data so you won’t suffer from FOMO. 

Connect New Skills to Old Ones

Learning something new doesn’t have to be stressful; start with something you already know or are familiar with, such as a hobby you had in high school. You don’t have to continue with it past a couple of weeks if you aren’t still interested, but flexing your braina bit and boosting your confidence will come in handy when it’s time to do what you really want to do.

Start Small

Start with small, attainable goals. It’s always good to reach for the stars, but this is a good way to set yourself up for frustration if things don’t turn out the way you want. You might set an initial goal of learning how to cook a simple meal in a month, or you might want to learn how to correctly use oil paints and paint thinner before you try to create something on a canvas. Starting small will allow you to work at your own pace, keep you motivated, and build your confidence. 

Teach Someone Else a Skill

Once you feel pretty comfortable with your talents, teach someone elsehow to do what you’re most interested in. Whether it’s painting, cooking, sewing, gardening, or writing, look for ways to help someone else get involved. Not only is this great for staying social and finding a bonding point with someone else, but it will also help you master your skill. There is always room for improvement and growth.

Don’t Multitask

Multitasking may sound beneficial when you’re very busy, but it actually prevents youfrom focusing on what’s most important and divides your attention, meaning you’re more apt to become overly tired or make mistakes. Instead, concentrate on one thing at a time and take it slowly; don’t put pressure on yourself to perform perfectly right away or to adhere to a schedule.

Learning a new skill can help boost your self-esteem and can even help you find a new career, depending on what path you choose to follow. With a good plan and an adventurous spirit, you can teach yourself something new at just about any age. Remember to have funwith it and don’t be hard on yourself, especially in the beginning. Acquiring a new skill takes time.