Self-Esteem and Willingness to Help People With and Without Disabilities Among Young Ultra-Orthodox

Abstract

The current study examined the role of self-esteem in the willingness to help people with disabilities among young ultra-Orthodox women. On the one hand, these women are culturally encouraged to help people in need, but on the other, being associated with anyone with a disability may endanger their marriage prospects. One-hundred-two young ultra-Orthodox Jewish women aged 16 to 23 completed Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (1965) and a self-report scale which assessed their willingness to help people with and without disabilities in hypothetical scenarios. Findings showed that high self-esteem women were more willing than low self-esteem women to provide help to people with disabilities. The discussion focuses on the limits of the willingness to help under certain cultural and personal circumstances.