Self-esteem and mortality: prospective evidence from a population-based study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE-Self-esteem is considered to be importantly associated with both psychosocial states such as depression as well as physical health. There are no population-based studies that examine the association between self-esteem and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess whether low self-esteem was prospectively associated with increased risk of death in a population-based sample of Finnish men.METHODS-A sample of 2682 male residents of Kuopio, Finland were interviewed and followed prospectively as part of the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (KIHD). Characteristics of the KIHD sample at baseline included self-esteem, measured by the Rosenberg ten-item scale, socioeconomic factors, behavioral risk factors, other psychosocial characteristics, and prevalent diseases. Mortality was ascertained through linkage to the Finnish national death registry. We assessed the relationship between self-esteem and all-cause mortality using Cox proportional hazards models.RESULTS-Low self-esteem was associated with a two-fold [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-3.2] increase in age-adjusted mortality. This relationship was partially explained by behavioral and socioeconomic factors, and prevalent diseases, and fully explained by other psychosocial characteristics (hopelessness, depression, cynical hostility, and sullenness). When adjusted for hopelessness alone there was no increased risk associated with low self-esteem (HR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.8-2.2).CONCLUSIONS-This study found no association between self-esteem and all-cause mortality after adjustment for other psychosocial characteristics, primarily hopelessness. Our understanding of the observed relationships between some psychosocial factors and mortality may be improved by simultaneous measurement of multiple psychosocial domains, thus diminishing the potential for residual confounding.

Forgive to Live: Forgiveness, Health, and Longevity

“…Higher levels of religiousness (Gillum et al, 2008;Musick et al, 2004), spirituality (Christensen et al, 1994), personal control (Krause & Shaw, 2000), happiness (Chida & Steptoe, 2008;Koopmans et al, 2010;Martin et al, 2002), selfesteem (Stamatakis et al, 2004), and optimism (Giltay et al, 2004;Rasmussen et al, 2009) have all been shown to have protective effects on mortality. Conversely, depression (Almeida et al, 2010;Mykletun et al, 2009;Schoevers et al, 2009) and reports of poorer physical health (Idler & Kasl, 1991;Menec et al, 1999;Phillips et al, 2010) have been identified as posing increased mortality risk.…”

Facteurs associés à la santé perçue et à la capacité fonctionnelle des personnes âgées dans la préfecture de Bandjoun au Cameroun

“…Plusieurs études ont établi, pour les hommes comme pour les femmes âgés, un lien étroit entre comportement de prévention et d'utilisation des services de santé et santé et capacité fonctionnelle (Wolinksky et al, 1995;Carlson, 2001;Stamatakis et al, 2003). Dans cette étude, l'utilisation des services de santé modernes ou traditionnels à titre préventif (pour un bilan de santé) est supposée associée à la santé perçue et à la capacité fonctionnelle.…”

Do Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Relationship Between Hopelessness and Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm?

“…Previous research has explored the effects of some factors associated with depression on physical health outcomes, including childhood abuse [35], a negative attribution style [36], and low self-esteem [37]; however, additional factors associated with depression still remain unexplored. Considering that both Beck's cognitive theory [5] and the hopelessness model [6] propose multiple cognitive vulnerability factors associated with depression (i.e., dysfunctional attitudes, cognitive errors, cognitive triad, negative automatic thoughts, pessimistic cognitive Running head: Depressive Symptoms, Hopelessness, and Cortisol 12 style), studies including multiple psychosocial factors seem fruitful, especially given the interplay that exists between these factors [e.g., 38].…”