Level of Self-Esteem and Contingencies of Self-Worth: Unique Effects on Academic, Social, and Financial Problems in College Students

Abstract

The unique effects of level of self-esteem and contingencies of self-worth assessed prior to college on academic, social, and financial problems experienced during the freshman year were examined in a longitudinal study of 642 college students. Low self-esteem predicted social problems, even controlling for demographic and personality variables (neuroticism, agreeableness, and social desirability), but did not predict academic or financial problems with other variables controlled. Academic competence contingency predicted academic and financial problems and appearance contingency predicted financial problems, even after controlling for relevant personality variables. We conclude that contingencies of self-worth uniquely contribute to academic and financial difficulties experienced by college freshmen beyond level of self-esteem and other personality variables. Low self-esteem, on the other hand, appears to uniquely contribute to later social difficulties.

Strategy narratives and wellbeing challenges: The role of everyday self-presentation

“…(Age 29, graphic designer) A perceived academic inadequacy has thrown Ruth into a rather negative sense of the self in relation to the "clever" ones in the school context. Ruth's self-adornment practices here underscore her attempts to navigate herself away from the negativity, to protect an overall positive sense of self-worthiness (Crocker and Luhtanen 2003). Ruth uses her makeup transformed self as a confidence boost (e.g., attractiveness) to compensate for her sense of unworthiness resulting from the perceived academic inadequacy.…”

“…The research findings show that there is an intricate interplay between informants' desire for physical attractiveness and wellbeing. Yet, prior research has suggested that people can be highly selective in terms of the domains on which they stake their self-worth and achieve wellbeing (Crocker and Luhtanen 2003). For some people, self-worth is largely dependent on their physical attractiveness (e.g., extrinsic motivation); for others, self-worth may be derived more from being true to the self within social interactions (e.g., intrinsic motivation) (cf., Bauer et al 2008).…”

The moderating impact of self‐esteem on self‐affirmation effects

“…This scale was selected on the basis that it is a well-established and relatively brief measure that captures general levels of contingent self-esteem. While there are other measures of contingent self-esteem available, the majority are designed to assess a specific domain of contingent self-esteem, such as academic performance (e.g., Crocker & Luthanen, 2003).…”

Biopsychosocial Model of Dietary Restraint in Early Adolescent Boys

“…High self-esteem has been associated with numerous positive outcomes, such as overall psychosocial adjustment (Griffiths, Parsons, & Hill, 2010). Researchers (e.g., Baumeister, 2011;Bois et al, 2000;Crocker & Luhtanen, 2003;Turner, 2010) have posited that individuals determine their self-esteem by comparing their attributes (e.g., physical appearance) to their self-standards (e.g., internalized societal appearance norms). For instance, boys who believe that it is important to be physically strong would be compare their real and internalized ideal bodies to determine the adequacy of their physical strength and abilities.…”