Lower Global Self-worth Research Articles

A multi-modal assessment of self-knowledge in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: a research domains criteria (RDoC) study.

Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, consolidation of self-understanding, and onset of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). This study evaluated the RDoC (Research Domain Criteria) sub-construct of Self-Knowledge in relation to adolescent NSSI using multiple units of analysis. One hundred and sixty-four adolescents assigned female at birth (AFAB), ages 12-16 years with and without a history of NSSI entered a study involving clinical assessment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including structural, resting-state functional MRI (fMRI), and fMRI during a self-evaluation task. For imaging analyses, we used an a priori defined Self Network (anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal, and posterior cingulate cortices; precuneus). We first examined interrelationships among multi-level Self variables. We then evaluated the individual relationships between NSSI severity and multi-level Self variables (self-report, behavior, multi-modal brain Self Network measures), then conducted model testing and multiple regression to test how Self variables (together) predicted NSSI severity. Cross-correlations revealed key links between self-reported global self-worth and self-evaluation task behavior. Individually, greater NSSI severity correlated with lower global self-worth, more frequent and faster negative self-evaluations, lower anterior Self Network activation during self-evaluation, and lower anterior and posterior Self Network resting-state connectivity. Multiple regression analysis revealed the model including multi-level Self variables explained NSSI better than a covariate-only model; the strongest predictive variables included self-worth, self-evaluation task behavior, and resting-state connectivity. Disruptions in Self-Knowledge across multiple levels of analysis relate to NSSI in adolescents. Findings suggest potential neurobiological treatment targets, potentially enhancing neuroplasticity in Self systems to facilitate greater flexibility (more frequently positive) of self-views in AFAB adolescents.

Development of Gender Non-Contentedness During Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Adolescence is an important period for the development of gender identity. We studied the development of gender non-contentedness, i.e., unhappiness with being the gender aligned with one’s sex, from early adolescence to young adulthood, and its association with self-concept, behavioral and emotional problems, and adult sexual orientation. Participants were 2772 adolescents (53% male) from the Tracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey population and clinical cohort. Data from six waves were included (ages 11–26). Gender non-contentedness was assessed with the item “I wish to be of the opposite sex” from the Youth and Adult Self-Report at all six waves. Behavioral and emotional problems were measured by total scores of these scales at all six waves. Self-concept was assessed at age 11 using the Global Self-Worth and Physical Appearance subscales of the Self-Perception Profile for Children. Sexual orientation was assessed at age 22 by self-report. In early adolescence, 11% of participants reported gender non-contentedness. The prevalence decreased with age and was 4% at the last follow-up (around age 26). Three developmental trajectories of gender non-contentedness were identified: no gender non-contentedness (78%), decreasing gender non-contentedness (19%), and increasing gender non-contentedness (2%). Individuals with an increasing gender non-contentedness more often were female and both an increasing and decreasing trajectory were associated with a lower global self-worth, more behavioral and emotional problems, and a non-heterosexual sexual orientation. Gender non-contentedness, while being relatively common during early adolescence, in general decreases with age and appears to be associated with a poorer self-concept and mental health throughout development.

Emotional Well-Being of Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors and Comparison Peers: Perspectives From Children and Their Parents.

The aim of this study was to examine the emotional well-being of pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) from the perspective of children's self-reports and parents' reports relative to matched comparison peers (COMP) and their parents. It was hypothesized that PBTS would self-report more depression symptoms, loneliness, and lower self-concept than COMP. We also hypothesized that mothers and fathers of PBTS would report more internalizing symptoms and lower total competence for their children. Age and sex effects were examined in exploratory analyses. Families of 187 PBTS and 186 COMP participated across 5 sites. Eligible children in the PBTS group were 8-15 years of age and 1-5 years post-treatment for a primary intracranial tumor without progressive disease. COMP were classmates matched for sex, race, and age. PBTS self-reported lower scholastic, athletic, and social competence, but not more depression, loneliness, or lower global self-worth than COMP. Parents of PBTS reported more internalizing symptoms and lower total competence than parents of COMP. With few exceptions, group differences did not vary as a function of child age and sex. PBTS reported diminished self-concept in scholastic, athletic, and social domains, while their parents reported broader challenges with internalizing symptoms and total competence. Discrepancies between self-report and parent report require further study to inform targeted interventions for PBTS. Screening survivors for emotional challenges in follow-up clinic or in school setting may help with the allocation of psychosocial support and services for PBTS and their families.

“So you think I'm cute?”: An observational study of adolescents' appearance evaluation in text messaging

Adolescents are immersed in an appearance culture sustained by their peers, which includes being exposed to norms and expectations of physical attractiveness. A new avenue for transmitting these appearance messages may be digital technologies, including text messaging. Little is known about how appearance messages may naturalistically occur in adolescents' text communication. This study employed observational methods to quantitatively and qualitatively examine the transmission of appearance evaluative text messages in an ethnically diverse sample of U.S. 10th graders (Mage = 15.98, 47% girls). Quantitative descriptive analyses indicated that appearance evaluative texting was relatively infrequent but was still observed in text messages sent by over half of participants. These text messages were typically positive, but valence varied depending on toward whom the evaluation was targeted. Receiving these appearance evaluative messages was correlated with lower global self-worth. A qualitative content analysis suggested that appearance evaluative messages serve to (a) provide a negative or positive assessment of the self, (b) transmit and elicit feedback, and (c) cultivate a culture within romantic partnerships in which appearance is valued. Findings are discussed in the context of existing digital theories (i.e., co-construction theory, the transformation approach) and appearance-oriented theories (i.e., objectification theory).

The Temporal Relations of Adolescents' Basic Need Satisfaction in Physical Education and Global Self-Worth.

This study investigated the temporal relations of adolescents' basic need satisfaction in physical education (PE) and global self-worth in a sample of 3,398 lower and upper secondary school students (49% boys, 51% girls, average age T1 = 15.00, SD = 1.79). Four models and competing hypotheses were tested, and the model with bidirectional paths specified showed the best fit to the data. The bidirectional effect estimates suggest not only that basic need satisfaction in PE predicts global self-worth development but also that adolescents' perceptions of global self-worth predict the degree to which they experience basic need satisfaction in PE. Findings could suggest that students with low global self-worth are less sensitive to basic need support in PE. These students may need personally tailored need-supportive initiatives in order to develop basic need satisfaction in PE and, thus, global self-worth through PE.

The risks and rewards of sexual debut.

The sex-positive framework of sexual development hypothesizes that healthy sexual experiences can be developmentally appropriate and rewarding for adolescents despite the risks involved. Research has not examined whether risky behaviors and rewarding cognitions actually change with sexual debut at a normative or late age. This study measured the longitudinal impact of sexual debut using 7 waves of data from 88 male and 86 female adolescents from a western U.S. city who were in the 10th grade at the study's onset. We used piecewise growth curve analyses to compare behaviors and cognitions before and after first sexual intercourse for those whose debut was at a normative or late age. These analyses revealed that sexual debut was related to rewards, including increases in romantic appeal and sexual satisfaction. In addition, internalizing symptoms declined over time after sexual debut, and substance use grew at a slower rate after sexual debut. We also examined whether differences existed among those whose debut was at an early, normative, or late age. Linear growth curve analyses revealed early sexual debut was related to risks, such as greater substance use, more internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and lower global self-worth. Rewards associated with an early debut included greater romantic appeal, dating satisfaction (males only), and sexual satisfaction (males only). Although there are some inherent risks with sexual activity, the results suggest that sexual debut at a normative or late age is also associated with a decrease in some risks and an increase in rewards. (PsycINFO Database Record

Self-esteem outcomes over a summer camp for obese youth.

Variation in the existing literature on the psychosocial benefits of weight loss in obese youth results, in part, from methodological limitations and modest weight loss. Accordingly, this research assessed perceived self-competence and low self-esteem during an intensive weight loss programme in a large sample of obese youth and related these to starting weight, gender and weight loss. Over 4 years, 303 obese male and female adolescents (body mass index [BMI] 34.3 kg m-2 , BMI standard deviation score 2.99; 14.7 years) attended a residential weight loss camp for a mean duration of 31 d. Outcome variables included dimensional self-esteem (Harter) and weight change over the camp. At the start of camp, obese youth scored highest on social acceptance and lowest on physical appearance and athletic competence. Global self-worth and most domains of self-competence improved significantly over the intervention. The proportion with low global self-worth reduced from 35% to 16%, but there was little change in the proportion reporting high self-competence (23%). Mean weight loss was -5.5 kg (BMI standard deviation scores -0.25) with boys and those heaviest at the start losing most. Weight loss was significantly correlated with improved physical appearance (r = 0.13) and athletic competence (r = 0.19), but not global self-worth. This intensive weight loss intervention yielded significant psychological benefit, especially in self-competence and among individuals achieving most weight loss. The weak association with weight loss suggests the influence of other contributing environmental or social features that should be the focus of further research.

Self-concept and body image dissatisfaction in West Australian adolescent boys and girls

Discrepancies between current body image perception and desired body image represent levels of body image dissatisfaction (BID). This study investigated the relationship between BID and multidimensional self-concept in adolescents from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. We hypothesized that BID is influenced by specific domains of the self-concept with gender differences. The Raine Study 14-year follow-up involved 1425 Caucasian adolescents (744 boys, 681 girls). The Body Figure Perception Scale explored adolescents' body image. Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents measured self-concept through 9 domains. Data analysis was performed using linear regression models. We found that 38% of boys wanted to be thinner, and 21% wanted to be bigger; while 63% of girls wanted to be thinner, and 6% wanted to be bigger. For both genders, the Physical Appearance domain was strongly associated with BID. In boys, low Athletic Competence was related to higher levels of BID. In girls, low Global Self-worth, Athletic Competence, and Close Friendship domains were associated with higher levels of BID. The relationship Athletic Competence-BID was attenuated, in both genders, when models were adjusted for body mass index. How adolescents view themselves in terms of their self-concept has an impact on BID with differences by gender. These findings could inform prevention and intervention initiatives in the field. This abstract was presented in the Disordered Eating and Body Image stream of the 2014 ANZAED Conference.

Development of a Humor Styles Questionnaire for children

AbstractThe adult Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ) assumes that humor can be both adaptive (“self-enhancing” and “affiliative”) and maladaptive (“aggressive” and “self-defeating”). The aim of the research was to develop a reliable and valid scale to assess adaptive and maladaptive humor in children – an adaptation of the adult HSQ. Over two studies, 1187 UK school children aged 9–15 years completed the 24-item adapted child HSQ. In the second study the children completed the questionnaire on two occasions, one week apart, and also measures of psychosocial adjustment. For children aged 11 years and upwards there was a clear four factor structure to the questionnaire with all sub-scales showing acceptable levels of internal and test re-test reliability. As predicted, affiliative humor and self-defeating humor were associated with all four measures of psychosocial adjustment. Aggressive humor was associated with lower anxiety and higher self-perceived social competence for boys, and with lower global self-worth and higher depression for girls. Longitudinal research is needed to disentangle the causal pathways and examine further the links between children's humor styles and their social competence.

Self-Esteem Links in Families with 12-Year-Old Children and in Separated Spouses

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study is to map associations of self-esteem in families with 12-year-old children and in separated spouses. The authors assessed self-esteem using the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adults (B. Messer & S. Harter, 1986) and the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children (S. Harter, 1988; L. Wichstrom, 1995) in (a) 1,236 pairs of spouses and their 12-year-old children and (b) 159 pairs of ex-spouses. The authors found links for all aspects of self-esteem for married and cohabiting spouses in contrast with ex-spouses who lacked such associations. Ex-spouses had a lower global self-worth than did married and cohabiting spouses. The authors also found parent–child associations for self-esteem. Girls resembled their mothers' global self-worth more than their fathers' and more than the boys. Family members manifest similar levels of self-esteem. The spouses’ similarity can be due to assortative mating, a convergence over time, or both. For children, environmental influence in the family context can contribute to the formation of self-esteem. The stronger mother–girl link suggests that maternal identification of self-esteem is an environmental factor for girls in particular.

Is Fear of Others Linked to an Uncertain Sense of Self? The Relevance of Self-Worth, Interpersonal Self-Concepts, and Dysfunctional Beliefs to Paranoia

The assumption that a low sense of self-worth can give rise to paranoid delusions is relevant from a therapeutic perspective, but research has been inconsistent. The present study sought to investigate how interpersonal self-concepts and global self-worth relate to psychotic and depressive psychopathology in persons with psychosis. Participants with psychosis ( n = 83) and healthy controls ( n = 33) were assessed for global self-worth, interpersonal self-concepts, and dysfunctional beliefs using the Frankfurt Self-Concept Scale and the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale. Symptoms were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Peters et al. Delusions Inventory, the Paranoia Checklist, and the Beck Depression Inventory. We hypothesized that perceived threat to self-worth, as expressed in dysfunctional acceptance beliefs and negative interpersonal self-concepts, would be uniquely associated with persecutory delusions. In contrast, low global self-worth would be strongly associated with symptoms of depression. Multiple regression analyses were used to investigate the association between symptoms and self-concepts. As expected, low global self-worth was associated with depression, whereas the more specific perception of not being accepted by relevant others was most clearly related to psychotic symptoms. Almost half of the variance in paranoia scores was explained by negative interpersonal self-concepts and the interaction between negative interpersonal self-concepts and dysfunctional acceptance beliefs. Thus, cognitive interventions for delusions might be improved by focusing more on interpersonal self-concepts.

Abstract 5709: The Pediatric Cardiac Quality of Life Inventory: A New Reliable and Valid Disease-specific Quality of Life Measure for Children and Adolescents with Congenital and Acquired Heart Disease

The Pediatric Cardiac Quality of Life Inventory (PCQLI) is a self-administered disease-specific quality of life (QOL) tool with patient and parent-proxy reporting (Child form 8 –12 yrs; Adolescent form 13–18 yrs), designed to assess the QOL of pediatric patients with congenital and acquired heart disease (CHD, AHD). Our purpose was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the PCQLI Seven centers recruited CHD and AHD patients age 8 –18 yrs. Patient-parent pairs completed the PCQLI, a generic QOL tool (PedsQL), and non-QOL questionnaires [Self Perception Profile for Children/Adolescents (SPPC/A); Youth Self Report and Child Behavioral Checklist (Achenbach)]. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by administering the PCQLI at 2 time points, and was assessed by Spearman correlation coefficient. Validity was tested by assessing: differences in PCQLI score among heart disease subgroups; associations between PCQLI score and the number of cardiac surgeries, catheterizations, hospitalizations, and doctor visits; the correlation between patient and parent PCQLI scores; and correlations between PCQLI score and the scores generated by generic QOL and non-QOL tools. The study was completed by 1486 patient-parent pairs. Heart disease subgroups included: biventricular repair (45.4%); Fontan palliation (12.6%); unrepaired CHD (12.0%); heart transplant (4.4%); and AHD (25.6%). Correlations evaluating test-retest reliability were high (r=0.78 – 0.90). Lower PCQLI score was associated with Fontan palliation (p<0.001), as well as a greater number of cardiac surgeries, catheterizations, hospitalizations, and doctor visits (all p<0.001). Disattenuated correlations between patient and parent PCQLI scores were moderate (r = 0.51– 0.69). The PCQLI score and generic QOL score were highly associated (r = 0.62– 0.77). Lower PCQLI score was strongly associated with lower Global Self-Worth score on the SPPC/A (p<0.001), and lower Total Competency score (p<0.001), higher Syndrome Scale scores, and higher DSM Oriented Scale scores on the Achenbach (p<0.001). The PCQLI is a new disease-specific pediatric cardiac QOL tool that produces reliable and valid scores in children and adolescents age 8 –18 yrs. This research has received full or partial funding support from the American Heart Association, AHA Great Rivers Affiliate (Delaware, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania & West Virginia).

Association of body weight and gender with self-esteem in schoolchildren. Survey of Ioannina, Epirus, Greece. The Children study

coefficient, r = −0.37, p<0.01), physical appearance(r = − 0.3, p<0.01), social acceptance (r = −0.29, p<0.01) and global self-worth (r = −0.37, p<0.01) compared with normal weight children. Girls scored lower in scholastic competence (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r = −0.09, p<0.05), social acceptance (r = −0.13, p<0.001) and global self-worth (r = −0.14, p<0.001) compared with boys. Children with low global self-worth have 29% more probability to be girl. (odds ratio=0.71, p<0.01, CI: 0.55-0.91). Conclusions High body weight impacts the self-perception of children entering adolescence, especially in girls, but in selected areas of competence. Children with high body weight are at particular risk of low global self-worth, scholastic competence and social acceptance. Quantifying risk of psychological distress should help in arguing for more resources in maintaining a normal body weight in children.

Self-concept of children with cerebral palsy compared with that of children without impairment

This study examined whether the self-concept of children with cerebral palsy (CP) differed from that of children without impairment. Forty-seven children (24 males, 23 females; mean age 11y 8mo [SD 2y 6mo]) with spastic diplegia or hemiplegia were matched with children without impairment. The level of disability of the children with CP was classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I (n=24), Level II (n=16), or Level III (n=7). The 36-item Self-Perception Profile for Children was used to assess six domains of self-concept. No difference was found between the groups for Global Self-worth, Physical Appearance, or Behavioural Conduct. Children with CP scored lower on Scholastic Competence (t(92)=-2.75, p=0.01), Social Acceptance (t(92)=-1.96, p=0.05), and Athletic Competence (t(92)=-3.63, p<0.01) than children without impairment. Males with CP had lower scores for Scholastic Competence (t(46)=-3.54, p<0.01) than males without impairment. Females with CP had lower scores for Social Acceptance (t(44)=-2.31, p=0.03) than females without impairment. Both males and females with CP had lower scores for Athletic Competence than their peers without impairment. These results suggest that children with CP do not have a lower Global Self-worth even though they may feel less competent in certain aspects of their self-concept. Clinicians need to account for this when deciding on management strategies and may need to educate parents, carers, and health professionals that a lower self-concept may not necessarily be associated with a diagnosis of CP.

Obesity and Risk of Low Self-esteem: A Statewide Survey of Australian Children

There is variation in the psychological distress associated with child obesity. Low self-esteem, when observed, provides very little information about the nature of the distress and no indication of the proportion of obese children affected. This study used a domain approach to self-competence to evaluate self-esteem in a representative sample of Australian children. A total of 2813 children (mean age: 11.3 years) took part in the study. They were recruited from 55 schools and were all in the last 2 years of primary school. Participants completed the Self-perception Profile for Children, a measure of body shape perception, and their height and weight were measured. Obese children had significantly lower perceived athletic competence, physical appearance, and global self-worth than their normal weight peers. Obese girls scored lower in these domains than obese boys and also had reduced perceived social acceptance. Obese children were 2-4 times more likely than their normal weight peers to have low domain competence. In terms of prevalence, 1 of 3 obese boys and 2 of 3 obese girls had low appearance competence, and 10% and 20%, respectively, had low global self-worth. Body dissatisfaction mediated most of the association between BMI and low competence in boys but not in girls. Obesity impacts the self-perception of children entering adolescence, especially in girls, but in selected areas of competence. Obese children are at particular risk of low perceived competence in sports, physical appearance, and peer engagement. Not all obese children are affected, although the reasons for their resilience are unclear. Quantifying risk of psychological distress alongside biomedical risk should help in arguing for more resources in child obesity treatment.

Parental drinking as a risk factor for children's maladjustment: The mediating role of family environment.

In the present study, the relationships among parental drinking, family environment, and child adjustment is investigated in a community sample of 207 10-14-year-olds. Multiple aspects of perceived family environment (e.g., cohesion, organization, conflict) as well as multiple indicators of adjustment (e.g., negative affect, feelings of competence, self-esteem) are taken into consideration. Parental alcohol problems are found to be associated with low family cohesion, poor family organization, and low global self-worth of the child. A mediational analysis reveals that the relation between parental drinking and low global self-worth is mediated by family cohesion.

The relationship between dieting and body image, body ideal, self-perception, and body mass index in Turkish adolescents

The current study examined the roles of body image, ideal body weight, self-perception, and body mass index (BMI) on the dieting behavior of Turkish adolescents. The 531 subjects who participated in the study ranged from 15 to 17 years old and were recruited from five selected high schools in Ankara. They completed the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (SPPA), the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire (BISQ), and the Dieting Status Measure (DiSM). Height and weight were measured. Dieting adolescents received significantly lower scores than nondieters for most of the BISQ items and for the physical appearance and global self-worth subscales of the SPPA. A thinner body ideal, the physical appearance domain of self-concept, and low global self-worth were the predicting factors of frequent dieting. However, BMI and body image dissatisfaction were not predicting factors. The results indicate that a thinner body ideal, low self-worth, and low physical self-concept have more significant effects on body dissatisfaction and dieting than being actually overweight does. Furthermore, high physical self-concept scores and body satisfaction may not necessarily preclude having a thinner body ideal and, hence, dieting in girls.

Associations among adolescent risk behaviours and self-esteem in six domains.

This study investigated associations among adolescents' self-esteem in 6 domains (peers, school, family, sports/athletics, body image and global self-worth) and risk behaviours related to substance use, bullying, suicidality and sexuality. A multistage stratified sampling strategy was used to select a representative sample of 939 English-, Afrikaans- and Xhosa-speaking students in Grades 8 and 11 at public high schools in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants completed the multidimensional Self-Esteem Questionnaire (SEQ; DuBois, Felner, Brand, Phillips, & Lease, 1996) and a self-report questionnaire containing items about demographic characteristics and participation in a range of risk behaviours. It included questions about their use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, solvents and other substances, bullying, suicidal ideation and attempts, and risky sexual behaviour. Data was analysed using a series of logistic regression models, with the estimation of model parameters being done through generalised estimation equations. Scores on each self-esteem scale were significantly associated with at least one risk behaviour in male and female adolescents after controlling for the sampling strategy, grade and race. However, specific self-esteem domains were differentially related to particular risk behaviours. After taking the correlations between the self-esteem scales into account, low self-esteem in the family and school contexts and high self-esteem in the peer domain were significantly independently associated with multiple risk behaviours in adolescents of both sexes. Low body-image self-esteem and global self-worth were also uniquely associated with risk behaviours in girls, but not in boys. Overall, the findings suggest that interventions that aim to protect adolescents from engaging in risk behaviours by increasing their self-esteem are likely to be most effective and cost-efficient if they are aimed at the family and school domains.

Obesity, appearance, and psychosocial adaptation in young African American children.

To evaluate the contributions of weight status, skin tone, peer teasing, and parental appraisals of child's size to self-esteem and psychosocial adjustment in overweight African American children. Overweight to very obese 5- to 10-year-old African American children (N = 117) completed measures of self-esteem, skin tone satisfaction, peer teasing, and body size perception. Caregivers completed the Child Behavior Checklist and rated their child's body size. Overweight was associated with low appearance self-esteem, and body size dissatisfaction with low global self-worth and low appearance self-esteem in children 8 and older. Appearance self-esteem but not global self-worth was lower in girls than boys. Parental perception of child's size as heavier than average was associated with low child appearance self-esteem. Heavier children also had more parental report of behavior and psychosocial problems, but their scores were in the nonclinical range. Child skin tone dissatisfaction was associated with low global self-worth. Weight-related peer teasing was associated with low self-esteem. The relationship between obesity and self-esteem in African American children depends upon age, gender, and children's experiences with teasing and parental evaluation of their size. Other factors, like skin tone satisfaction, contribute to a child's sense of self-worth.

Peer Victimization, Global Self-Worth, and Anxiety in Middle School Children

Examined relations among peer victimization, global self-worth, and anxiety, with particular interest in the potential mediating and moderating effects of global self-worth in the anticipated relations between peer victimization and anxiety. Sixth-grade children (N = 279) from a public middle school in southwestern Virginia participated. Reported levels of peer victimization were similar to those reported in previous studies, as were levels of anxiety. Sex differences were noted on measures of peer victimization and anxiety with boys reporting more victimization but less anxiety than girls. All subsequent analyses were conducted separately by sex. Significant relations were found among all variables of interest. For girls, global self-worth was found to mediate the peer victimization-anxiety relation, suggesting that victimization experiences negatively influenced girls' views of themselves and helped explain elevated levels of anxiety reported by them. For boys, global self-worth moderated the peer victimization-anxiety relation. Boys with higher global self-worth reported fewer anxiety symptoms than boys with lower global self-worth. Implications of these findings are discussed.