Self-esteem refers to how you think about yourself--the things you like or dislike--and how confident you feel about yourself. A child's self-esteem depends on how valuable he views himself. This view directly relates to the amount of praise or disappointment others have expressed. A child frequently praised and encouraged will have higher self-esteem, while a child frequently berated or called names will have a lower self esteem. As a result of low self-esteem, children may display behaviors that concern parents or caregivers.
Lack of Confidence
A child with low self-esteem lacks confidence, making him uncomfortable in new situations or activities. The talents he does possess, he frequently belittles and he feels that others do not value him. The child's lack of confidence and tendency to be overly critical of himself results in difficulty socializing and making friends, which in turn reduces self-esteem, thus beginning a cyclical pattern that may require adult intervention. Self-esteem is learned and therefore can be raised through activities focused on increasing self-esteem.
Poor Academic Performance
Low self-esteem can result in poor academic achievement. When a child lacks confidence, he lacks motivation to try his best and to learn new things. Again, the child will find himself in a circular loop, as low self-esteem leads to a lack of motivation and poor academic performance, while poor academic performance and low grades result in lowered self-esteem. These circular patterns make low self- esteem difficult to overcome, while increasing the ease with which it devolves into a more serious mood disorder: depression.
Depression
Low self-esteem often leads to negative self-talk, such as calling oneself stupid or worthless. Eventually, this negative self-talk may be incorporated into the child's sense of self, truly believing that he is stupid or worthless. Belief in such thoughts, coupled with difficulties socializing and adjusting to new situations or activities, may lead to depression. Depression, a serious mental illness, should not be ignored. Symptoms of depression do not always get better without treatment, and can result in thoughts of suicide. If childhood depression is suspected, seek help from a medical doctor or qualified mental health professional immediately.
Risky Behaviors
Self-esteem and engaging in risky behaviors are correlated, according to Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. Adolescent girls suffering from low self-esteem engage in sexual activity sooner than girls with high self-esteem. The correlation between self-esteem and sexual activity, however, does not indicate whether low self-esteem causes earlier sexual activity or if the earlier sexual activity causes low self-esteem. In addition to the correlation between sexual activity and self-esteem, teens with low self-esteem are more likely to begin smoking cigarettes than teens with high self-esteem.
References
- University of Delaware: Self Esteem Grows When Children Live With Realistic Expectations
- A Safe Place: How Self-Esteem Affects Personality and Behavior
- UT Counseling and Mental Health Center: Consequences of Low Self-Esteem
- SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center: Major Depression in Children and Adolescents
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children: Self-Esteem
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