Abstract
ABSTRACTIt is known that self-esteem influences health behaviors, but the number of studies examining the association between self-esteem and overall health behaviors including physical, psychological, and social behaviors among Asian adolescents is limited. This cross-sectional study included middle school students (n = 667, 67.5% boys, 31.6% girls) in Bucheon, Korea. The participants completed self-report questionnaires on self-esteem (using Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale), and overall health behaviors. Results indicated that self-esteem was positively associated with satisfaction with school life and academic grades, and perceived health status. Suicidal ideation and satisfaction with peer relationships were significantly associated with self-esteem in multivariate regression analysis. These results should be considered in the establishment of health policies and the content of programs to improve adolescents’ health outcomes.
Highlights
Adolescence is an important developmental stage for physical development and formation and maturation of psychological characteristics, including self-identity and self-esteem, which may impact on adult life (Dishman et al, 2006; Kim, 2003)
With regard to dietary habits, physical activity (PA), and sleep habits (Table 2), results indicated that students who actively participated in PA classes (p = .009), slept more (p = .040), and were satisfied with the duration of their sleep (p = .000) were more likely to have high self-esteem scores compared with other students
With respect to psychological health behaviors (Table 4), results showed that students who perceived their health status as good (p = .000) had higher self-esteem scores, and students who reported depression (p = .000), suicidal ideation (p = .000), and suicide attempts (p = .000) had lower self-esteem scores compared to other students
Summary
Adolescence is an important developmental stage for physical development and formation and maturation of psychological characteristics, including self-identity and self-esteem, which may impact on adult life (Dishman et al, 2006; Kim, 2003). Most previous studies in this area, the impact of self-esteem on health behaviors, involving adolescents have been restrictively conducted for self-esteem and addiction to the Internet or smart phones, obsession with physical appearance and body shape, pathological binge eating, obesity, or depression (Courtney, Gamboz, & Johnson, 2008; Hoare & Cosgrove, 1998; Hwang & Shin, 2000; Joo, 2007; Tomori & Rus-Makovec, 2000; Von Essen, Enskär, Kreuger, Larsson, & Sjödén, 2000) Even though these studies mentioned above pointed out the importance of self-esteem for adolescents’ health outcomes in the specific areas, they could not provide enough information for adolescents’ holistic healthy development. We examined the association between self-esteem and overall health behaviors embracing physical, psychological, and social behaviors
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