Self-Esteem: Implications for Adolescent Behaviour
...y”; (2) “How does your physical appearance or ‘body image’ affect how you feel about yourself”; (3) “Name some things that make you feel good about yourself”; and (4) “Name some things that make you feel bad about yourself”. The cross-sectional sample consisted of 209 adolescents in grades five, eight and twelve. A major finding indicated that boys restrict emotional expression from early adolescence through late adolescence, while girls increase emotional expression during the same age period. Another major finding suggests that girls in late childhood and adolescence are both more negatively and more positively influenced than boys by body image. Both boys' and girls' feelings about themselves are primarily influenced by gender-stereotyped ways. The authors of the study suggest further research should utilize a longitudinal study to look at potential changes to self-expression, body image and self-esteem as these adolescents grow up. Another future step includes following up to determine how emotional expression influences various psychological o...