Disentangling self-concept clarity and self-esteem in young adults

Datos Bibliográficos

ID10153497
AutoresElisa Weber (0000-0002-5661-3645, University of Zurich, autor de correspondencia), Christopher J Hopwood (0000-0001-6645-8645, University of Zurich), Adam T Nissen (0000-0002-2101-9478, University of California, Davis), Wiebke Bleidorn (0000-0003-3795-8143, University of Zurich)
Año2023
Volumen125
Número6
Páginas1420-1441
Fecha de publicación2023-04-10
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
EditorialAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/pspp0000460
PMID37036685
OpenAlexW4363645944
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas21

Self-concept clarity and self-esteem are powerful determinants of people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Yet, even after over 30 years of research, the conceptual and empirical ties between these two self-aspects remain understudied, and little is known about the nature and function of their relationship. The present study aimed at discerning the empirical similarities and differences between self-concept clarity and self-esteem in order to examine whether they can be considered sibling constructs that are conceptually and empirically related, but not identical. Specifically, we used multivariate eight-wave longitudinal data from two cohorts of young adults (Cohort 1, N = 460; Cohort 2, N = 412) to examine the structural, cross-sectional, and longitudinal links between self-concept clarity and self-esteem, as well as their incremental validity and within-person transactions over time. We found strong evidence that self-concept clarity and self-esteem are not the same but sibling constructs. Specifically, both self-aspects were as follows: (a) structurally different and (b) cross-sectionally related, (c) shared similar but not identical developmental trajectories, (d) codeveloped over time, (e) demonstrated incremental validity in the prediction of important life outcomes, and (f) demonstrated distinctive within-person associations over time. Overall, the present study provides the most comprehensive demonstration that self-concept clarity and self-esteem are similar but different in several meaningful ways, which is of crucial importance for theory, research, and practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Attribution · CLARITY · Developmental psychology · Feeling · Longitudinal study · MEDLINE · PsycINFO · Self-concept · Self-esteem · Sibling · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Cognitive Abilities and Testing · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychology · Social Psychology