Self-esteem in adolescents

Self-esteem in adolescents will determine their quality of life in adulthood. This psychological muscle erects a primordial root in the character of the young person in that stage of changes, challenges and difficulties where they will undoubtedly need, not only all our support, but intelligent, sensitive and validating support. Support that can be helpful, instead of acting as a wall that vetoes and prohibits.

Adolescence is a complex period, we know it. A stage of evolutionary development where identities, values, self-concepts are established… Hence the need to experiment, know and position oneself in various roles. Therefore, it is especially important that self-esteem in adolescents is high, strong and healthy. Otherwise, they may embark on an unwise path.

During adolescence the need to reflect deeply on oneself gains strength. In turn, the brain matures and new skills are acquired. All of this influences the process of acquiring a new identity. Hence, only when we have developed a coherent self-concept of ourselves, can we build our self-esteem.

Self-esteem is the assessment of self-concept

Self-concept is the global mental representation we have of ourselves.. She thrives on self-knowledge. For example, “I am very impulsive when I make decisions,” “I have fun walking with my dog ​​in the park,” “I am very competitive when I play soccer,” or “I speak very formally with my uncle.”

During the first years of life, the self-concept is more moldable. And, therefore, more susceptible to incorporating the values, evaluations and expectations coming from attachment figures. However, During adolescence it is much less coherent, more arbitrary and changing.

Thus, studies such as the one carried out at the University of Tennessee tell us that Adolescents with low self-esteem have a greater tendency to violencedrug use and tendency to risky sexual behavior.

By realizing what we are and how we are, the self-concept also gives us information about how much we are worth. Therefore, self-concept contains self-esteemwhich will depend on the assessment we make of ourselves in relation to certain aspects.

When is self-esteem formed?

Self-esteem is forged from birth, as is self-concept. It is, in turn, the result of the interaction of different factors:

On the one hand, genetic (temperament). On the other hand, the environmental (personal, social and cultural).

All of them are assimilated and internalized as we grow. This assessment of oneself can vary with age. Likewise, and According to the model proposed by Harris Clemens, self-esteem develops positively when adolescents achieve balance between these four dimensions:

Linking: Ability to build healthy, satisfactory and reciprocal relationships.Singularity: Recognition of the characteristics, skills or virtues that distinguish you and for which you are also recognized and valued by others.Can: Feeling of control over decisions, ability to assert oneself, be heard and clearly express one’s opinions or desires.Guidelines: Models of desirable behavior and positive reference points that serve the adolescent to build their value system.

How does a teenager value himself?

When you ask a teenager to describe himself, he will normally do so based on external attributes related to his physical appearance (attractiveness, features, figure…) and activities carried out (intellectual abilities and ways of relating to others).

His vision revolves around the concepts of worth and competence. Thus, It is closely related to school success, social competence and emotional balance. Furthermore, self-esteem in adolescents experiences gender differences:

Girls tend to have it smaller and more vulnerable. They are extremely concerned about their physical appearance, social success, and academic performance. Boys’ self-esteem is governed more by the difficulty of fulfilling the stereotype of a man as a self-confident, tough, and fearless guy.

Behaviors that indicate the degree of self-esteem in adolescents

Depending on the level of self-esteem that the adolescent has, as well The rest of the aspects of your life will be influenced: school, family, emotional, intrapersonal, etc. Furthermore, this assessment will have a decisive impact on your later personality and happiness.

Adolescents with high self-esteem

We are going to characterize adolescents with good self-esteem. They have these characteristics:

They feel loved and accepted by their environment. In addition, they are motivated to learn, try new things and are willing to see the world. They tend to show optimistic about their future and they know how to approach their problems from different points of view. Short and medium-term objectives and goals are established and are capable of taking responsibility for their own behaviors and decisions.They know their strengths and weaknesses. Just as they know how to accept criticism, they are self-critical and confront problems.They have emotional stability and show empathy.They are sensitive to the needs of othersthey communicate easily with the people around them and maintain a healthy network of contacts in their environment.

Adolescents with low self-esteem

However, the behaviors that give signs of low self-esteem in adolescents are led by a lack of confidence in themselves and their abilities. Let’s see some of the most striking signs:

They consider themselves inferior to others, not respected and not valued. This makes them reject group activities in which they have to cooperate with others.They feel insecurity and a paralyzing fear of failure.They often show signs of lack of discipline, commitment and assumption of responsibility. In their attempt to excel and given their constant need to attract attention They deceive and lie.They blame others and often adopt an aggressive attitude, violent, regressive, defiant and antisocial.

How to help a teenager improve their self-esteem?

At this time of life, the relationship with peers and family has a much greater influence on self-esteem than in adult life. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that certain deals will have more weight when shaping your identity. Let’s see some beneficial actions for self-esteem in adolescents:

Pay attention to the adolescent when necessary (that is, manifest a healthy attachment). Positively reinforce everything that contributes to building solid self-esteem. Instill dynamics and actions that promote healthy relationships. Share one’s own feelings and experiences with the adolescent. .Never invalidate their feelings.Share a hobby with the teenager and spend time together.Respect their choices regarding partners and friends, as long as they do not pose a danger to their physical or mental integrity.

What is self-esteem for?

Erik Erikson, a well-known psychoanalyst expert in psychosocial development, determines that adolescence is a process of searching for identity and personal meaning. Therefore, although it is usually established in terms of crisis and hormonal chaos, it is healthy and contributes to strengthening the adult’s ego.

Consequently, self-esteem helps us accept ourselves and value our qualities. Just as we know what our flaws are, We must be aware of the strengths we have and bring them out.

It is not being egotistical, it is being realistic and feeding our self-esteem. Self-esteem is a sign of respect for yourself and others. Only he who respects himself is respected. Just like only those who value themselves, are valued by other people.

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