Do Parents Foster Self‐Esteem? Testing the Prospective Impact of Parent Closeness on Adolescent Self‐Esteem

Abstract

Close parent-child relationships are viewed as important for the development of global selfesteem. Cross-sectional research supports this hypothesis, but longitudinal studies provide inconsistent prospective effects. The current study uses data from Germany (N = 982) and the United States (N = 451) to test longitudinal relations between parent-child closeness and adolescent self-esteem. The authors used self-, parent-, and observer-reported parent-child closeness and self-reported self-esteem from ages 12 to 16. Results replicated concurrent correlations found in the literature, but six longitudinal models failed to show prospective relations. Thus, the longitudinal effect of parent-child closeness and self-esteem is difficult to detect with adolescent samples. These findings suggest the need for additional theorizing about influences on adolescent self-esteem development and longitudinal research with younger samples. However, longitudinal research does not provide clear support that positive parent-child relationships predict the development (i.e., change) of self-esteem over time (Allen, Hauser, Bell, & O'Connor, 1994;Boudreault-Bouchard, et al. 2013;Greene & Way, 2005;Roberts & Bengtson, 1996;Yang & Schaninger, 2010). This pattern of conflicting findings (i.e., robust concurrent correlation, but no consistent longitudinal correlation) could mean that (a) the relation between parent-child relationships and self-esteem reflects a reverse effect (i.e., self-esteem predicts the development of positive parent-child relationships over time); (b) the relation is complex and requires appropriate complex statistical modeling to capture the process by which parent-child relationships impact the development of self-esteem; (c) the inconsistency in longitudinal studies reflects critical methodological differences between studies (i.e., the existence of moderators); (d) the true effect is small and therefore difficult to detect without PARENT CLOSENESS AND ADOLESCENT SELF-ESTEEM 3 adequate sample sizes; and/or (e) the relation between self-esteem and parent-child relationships is attributable to a third variable. The current study evaluates evidence for these possibilities during adolescence, a critical time to study self-esteem change. Why Study the Development of Self-Esteem?There is substantial evidence that self-esteem, a subjective feeling of one's overall worthiness, is associated with mental and physical health indicators. For example, self-esteem is Trzesniewski et al., 2006). These findings underscore the idea that self-esteem is associated with consequential life outcomes. Where Does Self-Esteem Come From?Given that self-esteem is related to important life outcomes, it is important to understand its developmental antecedents. A longstanding belief is that self-esteem stems from relationships with others. For example, Cooley (1902) and Mead (1934) suggested that a person comes to view him or herself through the lens of others' opinions (i.e., reflected appraisals). This concept is illustrated in resea...

Parent–child communication and self‐esteem mediate the relationship between interparental conflict and children's depressive symptoms

“…Finally, we did not find a significant direct path from interparental conflict to self‐esteem, suggesting that the negative effect of interparental conflict on self‐esteem was completely mediated by parent–child communication. Much evidence has shown that parent–child relationship, by extension parent–child communication, was an important contributor of children's self‐esteem (Harris et al, ; Thompson, ). For example, through consistent, warm, and supportive interactions with parents, a child is thought to develop a view of self as important and worthy of love (Thompson, ).…”

“…was an important contributor of children's self-esteem (Harris et al, 2015;Thompson, 2006). For example, through consistent, warm, and supportive interactions with parents, a child is thought to develop a view of self as important and worthy of love (Thompson, 2006).…”

Adolescents’ Daily Experience of Fathers’ Emotional Support and Self‐Evaluation in Korea

“…Parents' emotional support includes everyday interpersonal attitudes of warmth, acceptance, and responsiveness (Boudreault-Bouchard et al, 2013). Adolescents who received high levels of support from parents tended to report higher levels of global self-esteem and self-efficacy, and more positive self-concept than those who received low levels of support from parents (Cooper, 2009;Harris et al, 2015;Nam & Kim, 2011;Park, 2014).…”

The Development of Self Esteem in Children: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Almost all the researchers and scholars agree on its importance and different factors constituting it, however, many still differ on the underlying definition of self esteem and influence of different components [10,11]. Even though there exists an enormous ambiguity regarding a common selfesteem definition, the most accepted theory regarding it is given by Hewitt in which he states that self-esteem is a belief of an individual which encompasses self evaluation and self realization of his/her own true worth [12].…”