Many different mental health conditions such as depression, eating disorders and generalized anxiety disorder have an impact upon self-worth and self-esteem.

This article aims to explore some of the main factors affecting one's level of self-esteem with key areas to be examined listed below.

• Factors influencing self-esteem
• Factors maintaining low self-esteem
• Factors increasing self-esteem

Factors Influencing Self-Esteem

There are a several key factors which are believed to have a significant influence on an individual's amount of self-esteem. Personality traits which one inherits from one's parents or grandparents for example will play a part in the manner in which events or circumstances are interpreted thus impacting upon self-esteem.

One of the greatest factors affecting self-esteem is one's experiences encountered in childhood. From an early age children are strongly influenced by those caring for them and if those people were overly critical and judgmental it is easy to see how this would cause one to feel inferior, rejected or worthless as a result. Other factors impacting upon self-esteem include painful events/experiences such as bereavement, divorce, serious illness or bullying.

Factors Maintaining Low Self-Esteem

While the above factors may influence the development of low self-esteem it is likely that other factors are responsible for maintaining the status quo. Safety behaviours one develops for coping with life may serve to keep the cycle going round. Examples of safety behaviours relating to low self-esteem include avoidance and destructive behaviours such as self-harm.

If an individual feels badly about himself and thinks that the best way to avoid being rejected or hurt by others is to avoid social interaction then this belief and subsequent behaviour will be reinforced when one is no longer invited to social events as a result. Self-harm such as scratching, cutting or misusing forms of medication will also as a result further diminish one's amount of self-esteem.

Factors Increasing Self-Esteem

Often, the cycle of low self-esteem and safety behaviours or maintenance factors may be broken when one is made to feel valued, accepted and has a strong support network surrounding them which in turn may help one learn to accept and appreciate oneself.

Personal development skills which increase self-esteem including the following: assertiveness, effective communication, confidence building, disarming and goal setting. Also, learning to acknowledge and accept praise for one's achievements is important as is being able to keep things in perspective and be flexible when life events are out of one's control.

Thanks for reading . Xoxo!

Arden




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