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Self-esteem refers to an individual’s sense of worth or the extent to which a person values, approves of, appreciates or likes oneself (Blascovich and Tomaka, 1991). A more broadly used definition is a favorable or unfavorable attitude toward the self (Rosenberg, 1965). Self-esteem is a subjective evaluation of self-meaning, identity, image and concept, and cumulatively these reflect an individual’s cognitive, behavioral and affective domains (Bailey, 2003).
Cross-sectional studies have found that self-esteem gradually increases across adulthood, with lower self-esteem reported among adolescents and young adults (Galambos et al., 2006; Gove et al., 1989; Jaquish and Ripple, 1981; Lall et al., 1996;,Orth et al., 2010). This trend may reflect the maturational changes, identity formation and complex interpersonal relationships among adolescents and young adults in their transition to adulthood (Orth et al., 2010; Grossbard et al., 2009). In addition, previous research has also shown significant differences in self-esteem between genders, with women reporting lower self-esteem than men (Orth et al., 2010). This dichotomy has been found to be largest in adolescence and young adulthood and converging in old age.
Furthermore, empirical studies have shown that self-esteem is an important predictor of a person’s wellness, particularly those relating to their physical, sexual and mental health. A comparative study of college students found that those who reported higher levels of physical activity scored higher on measures of mental health, including their perception of self-worth (Baldwin et al., 2017). Self-esteem has also been linked to health practices among adolescents or young adults, including condom (Abel, 1998; Salazar et al., 2005) and contraceptive use (Herold et al., 1979) as well as weight control (Grossbard et al., 2009). Additionally, self-esteem during early adulthood is a crucial predictor of depression later in life (Wilhelm et al., 1999). Diminishing self-worth can lead to depressed moods or disorders, social problems or risk behaviors, such as attempted suicide or eating disorders (Mann et al., 2004).
A major population that has been highlighted in current literature to share a disproportionate high burden of mental illness is that of college students. For example, American Psychological Association noted that 95% of college counselors reported in a survey a growing trend in mental illness...