Social Desirability and Perceived Stress: Impact on Self-Esteem of Women

Abstract

Self-esteem plays a pivotal role in women's lives, influencing their self-esteem, resiliency, and general well-being. A good sense of self-worth enables women to negotiate problems more effectively, cultivates positive connections, and improves mental and emotional resilience in the face of societal pressures and adversity. This study examined the relationships between social desirability and stress levels and their impact on self-esteem of women. Social desirability and Stress levels were measured using the Marlowe-Crowne social desirability scale and Perceived stress scale respectively. Self-esteem was determined through the rosenberg self-esteem scale which assess the self-esteem levels in individuals. It measures both positive and negative feelings about oneself, providing a reliable measure of self-esteem across various populations and settings. A quantitative research approach was used for collecting data from a varying age range of women. (N=100) through self-report measures assessing the social desirability, perceived stress and self-esteem among women. To calculate the strength and direction of relation between the three variables, Pearson’s coefficients correlation was used. While the correlation between Social Desirability and Self-Esteem was not statistically significant (r = .159, p > .05), it hinted at a potential association between the constructs. Similarly, the weak positive correlation between Self-Esteem and Perceived Stress (r = .099, p > .05) suggested a trend wherein higher self-esteem may be linked to lower perceived stress levels. However, the most notable finding was the significant positive correlation between Social Desirability and Perceived Stress (r = .396, p < .01), indicating that individuals exhibiting socially desirable behaviors may experience elevated levels of perceived stress. These results lend support to the hypotheses positing significant relationships between social desirability and self-esteem, as well as between perceived stress and self-esteem in women. Understanding these associations can inform interventions aimed at promoting mental health, emphasizing the importance of addressing societal pressures and fostering healthy self-perceptions among women. More study is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying these associations and to examine potential routes for mitigating the negative impacts of social desirability on psychological well-being. .Keywords: Social desirability, Self-esteem, Perceived stress, Women.