Narrative Agency and Communion as Predictors of Trait and State Self‐Esteem Dynamics

Bibliographic Data

ID19279339
AuthorsGuðrún R Guðmundsdóttir (0000-0002-0912-6414, Department of Developmental Psychology Tilburg University Tilburg The Netherlands, corresponding author), Elisabeth L De Moor (0000-0001-7049-5959, Department of Developmental Psychology Tilburg University Tilburg The Netherlands), Anne K Reitz (0000-0001-7286-2257, Department of Developmental Psychology Tilburg University Tilburg The Netherlands)
Year2026
Volume94
Issue2
Pages289-303
Publication date2026-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3506 • E-ISSN: 1467-6494
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jopy.70000
PMID40542484
OpenAlexW4411519729
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited104

INTRODUCTION: Self-esteem has important implications for life outcomes, yet little is known about its antecedents at both the trait and state levels. We examined agency and communion-coded from personal narratives about a past turning-point event-as predictors of trait self-esteem levels, long-term trait changes, and short-term fluctuations (instability) in state self-esteem. METHODS: = 24.5, 75% females) over a 2-year period, tracking their university-to-work transition. Participants completed a questionnaire and 14-day experience sampling assessments at each wave. Mixed-effects location scale models were used. RESULTS: Agency and communion were positively associated with self-esteem at the beginning of the transition. While communion did not predict instability in state self-esteem, we found some evidence for agency negatively predicting self-esteem instability across days but not across moments. Results neither revealed differences in trait changes as a function of agency or communion nor significant heterogeneity in change trajectories overall. Agency appeared more frequently in students' narratives compared to communion. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that agentic but not communal narratives negatively predict daily self-esteem instability during the work transition but provide limited insight into momentary self-esteem instability and trait changes

Agency (philosophy) · Developmental psychology · Experience sampling method · Longitudinal study · Narrative · Self-esteem · Sense of agency · Sociology · Trait · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Mental Health Research Topics · Personality Traits and Psychology · Psychology · Social Psychology