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Media trends are widely prevalent on social media sites, and have demonstrated the ability to influence people's perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes. The present study examined the fitness and health-focused media trend of "fitspiration" and its effects on the state self-esteem of young adult males and females. The study is one of the first to examine fitspiration in an Indian context and amongst an Asian population and contributes to the growing literature concerning media trends, body image, and self-esteem in women and men. The sample consisted of 61 undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18–25 years, recruited through convenience sampling. A pretest posttest control group design was used and data was collected using a personal demographic sheet and state self-esteem scale (SSES). Pretest group equivalence was statistically ascertained and then pre-post comparison analysis was done for male and female participants separately. Contrary to expectations, findings revealed that fitspiration caused a significant increase in the social state self-esteem of females. The findings have been discussed based on the Self-Discrepancy Theory. The study contributes to the limited literature on media trends in an Asian setting and has valuable implications for the fields of social, health, and sports psychology, as well as advertising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methodological and empirical questions concerning state self-esteem are contingent upon very specific underlying commitments to "what" state self-esteem and its dynamics actually are. These are questions concerning ontology. These underlying commitments or views about "what actually exists" are not explicit, but enacted through our research actions. It is vital to bring these implicit underlying ontologies to the surface, so that we as researchers can reflect upon them, and on the assumptions that we are communicating and reinforcing with our methodological and empirical practices. In service of a conceptually solid and unambiguous framework of theoretical and methodological approaches to state self-esteem, I aim to lay bare the ontological commitments enacted in current research on state self-esteem. I show that state-self-esteem research forms two different assemblages of practices, which are repertoires of conceptual assumptions, discourse norms, methods of analysis, and operationalizations. One assemblage sketches a narrative of daily self-esteem in mechanistic terms, the other sketches a narrative of daily self-esteem in processual terms. After analyzing how concrete practices enact these ontological commitments, I reflect on how the two research assemblages might converge to benefit research on state self-esteem in the future, emphasizing the need for reflexivity from researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the self- and affect-related outcomes associated with upward social comparisons to entertainment characters. Participants (N = 218) chose one entertainment television program to view from a selection of eight available and reported their emotional responses, state self-esteem, and enjoyment post-viewing. Feelings of envy and jealousy, associated with upward contrastive social comparisons, were related to decreased state self-esteem post viewing. Alternatively, feelings of hope and inspiration, associated with upward assimilative social comparisons, were related to increased enjoyment and appreciation of the content post-viewing. Implications for a better understanding of the relationships between emotions, state self-esteem, enjoyment, and appreciation in mediated entertainment contexts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether narcissistic personality features had indirect associations with state self-esteem through perceived status and inclusion. We used a daily diary approach to examine whether daily perceptions of status and inclusion mediated the associations that narcissistic admiration (an agentic form of narcissism that is characterized by assertive self-enhancement and self-promotion) and narcissistic rivalry (an antagonistic form of narcissism that is characterized by self-protection and self-defense) had with daily reports of state self-esteem in 808 undergraduate students. Narcissistic admiration had positive indirect associations with state self-esteem through perceived status and inclusion, whereas narcissistic rivalry had negative indirect associations with state self-esteem through perceived status and inclusion. These results suggest that perceptions of status and inclusion may contribute to the feelings of self-worth that are experienced by individuals with narcissistic personality features. Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for our understanding of the connections between narcissism and self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from theorizing about motivated self-protection, we report the results of four studies testing the idea that threatened state self-esteem reduces forgiving. In Study 1, primed self-esteem threat (versus a control condition) led to decreased forgiving intentions in hypothetical scenarios. In Study 2, primed self-esteem threat (versus two control conditions) negatively affected forgiveness motivations in relation to recalled personally experienced transgressions. Study 3 utilized a correlational recall design, demonstrating that threatened self-esteem directly associated with a personally recalled transgression is negatively related to forgiving motivations. Study 4 returned to a priming paradigm, providing evidence that the deleterious effect of self-esteem threat on forgiveness may be combated by enhancing state-level self-esteem. Theoretical and practical implications and ideas for future research are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research regarding the variability of state self-esteem (SSE) commonly focuses on themagnitudeof variability. In this article we provide the first empirical test of thetemporalstructureof SSE as a real-time process during parent–adolescent interactions. We adopt a qualitative phenomenological approach, whereby moment-to-moment emotional and behavioral indicators of SSE are measured as they emerged during the interactions, resulting in SSE time series. We conducted detrended fluctuation analyses (DFA) on the SSE time series and found that they exhibited a form of structured variability, calledpink noise.The mean DFA exponent differed significantly from that of randomized surrogate data (p < .01), which revealed uncorrelated random variability, calledwhite noise.This finding shows that the temporal structure of SSE variability exhibits self-similarity and is not random. In addition, a weak positive relationship was found between the DFA and context-independent autonomy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cognitive-emotional theory of esteem support messages (CETESM) posits that esteem support can enhance recipients' state self-esteem after an acute threat. To test the CETESM and other supportive communication theories, researchers have conducted experiments employing trained confederates who provide supportive messages of varying quality to naïve disclosers. Manipulation checks of confederate fidelity to conditions are typically conducted at the level of the entire conversation. However, conversation-level checks fail to provide critical information about what happens in interactants' turns at talk. The present report reanalyzes data from a study framed by the CETESM in which confederates were trained to enact four esteem support message styles when interacting with a naïve discloser. Engaging in turn-based coding and employing analytical techniques such as configural frequency analysis (CFA), we test hypotheses and research questions regarding: (1) how confederate turns correspond to their assigned condition; (2) the nature of discloser turns in esteem support interactions with confederates; (3) the nature of discloser-to-confederate turn transitions; and (4) discloser-to-confederate turn transitions associated with key outcomes for disclosers. Results indicate that while many confederate turns were consistent with their assigned condition, interesting deviations occurred in response to discloser turns, some of which were linked to outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of Objective Self-Awareness (OSA) and related studies suggest that embodiment of personalised avatars may induce self-awareness and influence self-esteem. Additionally, the Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) paradigm suggests that humans may mindlessly respond to computers in ways that are similar to human interactions. Based on those assertions, it is plausible that virtual embodiment of a personalised avatar and interactions with a virtual agent can shift self-esteem. However, those effects on self-esteem have not been thoroughly examined in past studies. To address these research gaps, a 2 (avatar personalisation: personalised vs. non-personalised avatar) × 2 (virtual agent interaction valence: positive vs. negative) between-subjects experiment was conducted using a Virtual Reality (VR) simulation (N =171). Findings from the study showed that there was no effects of avatar personalisation and virtual agent interaction valence on state self-esteem change. However, the pairwise comparisons present some preliminary indications that avatar personalisation and positive interactions with a virtual agent may facilitate improvements in state self-esteem altogether. Implications of the study findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of sharing schadenfreude with friends on late adolescents' self-esteem. University students (242 men; 238 women) were presented with scenarios depicting a deserved failure of a superior rival classmate and sharing schadenfreude. Participants' state self-esteem was measured both before the rival's misfortune and after sharing schadenfreude and was compared with that of participants presented with the non-sharing scenario. Whereas experiencing schadenfreude enhanced late adolescents' state self-esteem regardless of the level of envy toward the rival, sharing schadenfreude with a best friend was not associated with further increases in self-esteem. When discussing the very well-deserved misfortune of others, the listener will likely react similarly to the expresser; thus, expressing schadenfreude may not bring about a sense of being understood and accepted by friends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study of self-esteem after stroke may provide valuable prognostic information of the potential for functional recovery and may also inform the approach to treatment. Hitherto, research into the effect of post-stroke aphasia on self-esteem has received little attention. The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between aphasia and self-esteem and to establish whether the severity of aphasia correlates significantly with the level of self-esteem.Methods & Procedures: Self-esteem was measured with the Visual Analogue Self-Esteem Scale (VASES) and aphasia was assessed with the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB). Assessments were made as soon as practicable after the stroke onset and 3 and 6 months after the first evaluation.Outcomes & Results: Of 51 eligible patients, 40 completed the study. The mean (SD) VASES scores at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-entry were 36.8 (7.6), 37.6 (7.2), and 38.5 (7.7), respectively. WAB scores were 71.3 (22.9) at 3 months and 72.0 (21.1) at 6 months. This compares to a baseline score of 45.5 (26.2). The changes in WAB scores from baseline to the 3 and 6 months post-entry assessments were statistically significant. However, the correlation between the severity of aphasia and self-esteem did not reach statistical significance either at baseline, or at the subsequent assessments.Conclusions: The severity of aphasia does not appear to correlate significantly with the level of self-esteem in the first 6 months after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrative identities are not only a product of lived experiences, but also predict new experiences and developmental outcomes over time. In this study, we examined whether the characteristics of students' narratives about a previous turning point in their lives predicted self-esteem and life satisfaction during their education-to-work transition. We examined predictions of trait change and of stability in state self-esteem and life satisfaction in daily life. Students (aged 24 years on average) in diverse master's programs in the Netherlands who expected to graduate before the end of the study took part in an 8-month longitudinal (n = 216) and 14-day diary (n = 192) part of the study. Our findings show that more agentic and redemptive turning point narratives did not predict significant change in trait self-esteem and life satisfaction during the next 8 months of the transition. Narrative agency and redemption were no consistent significant predictors of higher day-to-day stability in state self-esteem and life satisfaction. Yet, higher levels in narrative agency tended to be associated with higher stability in daily self-esteem. Our findings show promising possibilities to further examine how and when the characteristics of people's narratives relate to the development and stability of psychological adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the connections that the facets of narcissism captured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI; Raskin & Hall, 1979) and the Pathological Narcissism Inventory (PNI; Pincus et al., 2009) have with self-esteem. This was accomplished by asking 372 participants to complete measures of narcissism and self-esteem level as well as daily diary measures concerning their state self-esteem and daily experiences. Our analyses found that the facets of narcissism differed in their associations with average level of self-esteem, fluctuations in state self-esteem over time, and self-esteem reactions following daily events. These results suggest that it is important to consider specific facets of narcissism when examining feelings of self-worth rather than relying on broader composite measures of narcissistic personality features. Implications of these results for our understanding of the dynamics of the narcissistic personality are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackground: Research suggests that male-specific psychotherapy approaches for major depressive disorder (MDD) that consider traditional masculinity ideologies (TMI) may achieve improved treatment efficacy and reduced therapy dropout. However, studies examining male-specific psychotherapy for MDD or specific therapy aspects remain lacking. Methods: An anonymous online study on men’s mental health examined 152 self-reporting mentally distressed cisgender men (Mage = 25.5 ± 9.1) from German-speaking countries of Europe. After completing baseline assessments (T1) of state self-esteem, state shame, positive/negative affect, depressive symptoms, and TMI, men were randomly assigned to read either a male-specific (MSP) or a cognitive behavioral therapy-oriented (CBT) psychoeducation text for MDD. Immediately afterwards, participants rated its usefulness and completed follow-up assessments (T2). Results: Men in the MSP condition showed a stronger decrease in shame and negative affect as compared to men in the CBT-psychoeducation condition. Furthermore, in the MSP condition, prototypical depression symptoms tended to increase as compared to the CBT-psychoeducation, whereas male-typical externalizing depression symptoms tended to decrease. Conclusion: MSP for MDD may help depressed men feel less ashamed about their MDD and experience less negative affect about their condition than CBT-psychoeducation. Furthermore, MSP for MDD may elicit a shift from male-typical externalizing depression symptoms to prototypical depression symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity rates remain high among U.S. adults, especially rural residents. Research has shown that nostalgia appeals effectively promote several healthy behaviors. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying nostalgia appeals remain unclear. This study examined the effects of nostalgia appeals on intention to increase exercise and shed light on how nostalgia affected persuasive outcomes. We anticipated that nostalgia appeals would persuade people by enhancing self-esteem and reducing anger and counterarguing. To illuminate the mechanisms underlying the effects of nostalgia, a between-subject experiment (nostalgia appeal vs. regret appeal vs. irrelevant message vs. neutral persuasive message) was conducted among overweight or obese rural Michiganders (N = 507). Results showed that relative to the regret appeal, the nostalgia appeal led to higher state self-esteem, less anger, and less counterarguing. There was no significant difference in attitude or behavioral intention between the nostalgia appeal, regret appeal, and neutral persuasive message. We demonstrated that enhancing self-esteem was the key mechanism by which the nostalgia appeal persuaded the target audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined whether mastery goals promote greater score improvement on a cognitive test than performance goals and whether self-compassion and contingency of self-worth moderated the effect. Participants received either mastery or performance goals manipulation, failed on a difficult test, and took the test again after receiving the correct answers. Those with mastery goals showed a greater score improvement than those with performance goals, although post-failure state self-esteem did not differ between the two conditions. Moreover, the goals had a greater effect among (a) those with low rather than high self-compassion and (b) those with high rather than low competition contingency of self-worth. The findings suggest that by framing the task as a challenge rather than a threat, mastery goals encourage people to learn from failure more so than performance goals, especially when under high ego-threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the effects of social stress on work performance in a laboratory study using a battery of performance tests. Social stress was induced by a combination of negative feedback and ostracism. Participants received negative performance feedback and were ostracised by two confederates of the experimenter. Using a one-way experimental design with three levels (machine-induced stress, human-induced stress, and no stress), 102 participants performed the following tasks: attention, divergent and convergent creativity. Participants also completed questionnaires measuring positive and negative affect, and state self-esteem. The manipulation check confirmed that social stress was successfully implemented. The results showed that social stress increased negative affect and reduced self-esteem. However, performance remained unaffected by social stress on any of the cognitive tasks, with no difference emerging between human-induced and machine-induced stress. The findings provide support for the 'blank-out'-mechanism, which assumes that humans can maintain performance levels even under difficult working conditions. Practitioner summary: Social stress in the form of negative performance feedback and social exclusion has a negative impact on the affect and self-esteem of humans. However, performance on subsequent tasks was not impaired. Abbreviations: TSST: trier social stress test; SSES: state self-esteem scale; PANAS: positive and negative affect schedule; ANOVA: analysis of variance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outperforming others can provide psychological benefits but may also result in interpersonal costs. Two studies examined reactions to being an upward comparison (UC) target. Study 1 used event-contingent diaries and found that undergraduates' concerns for the outperformed person's response corresponded to lower positive affect and higher negative affect. Study 2 recruited participants via the Internet to recall particularly important instances of being a UC target. Results revealed that concerns about the other's response were linked to negative reactions, whereas perceiving the outperformed person as upset was linked to positive reactions (when concerns about the outperformed person's response were statistically controlled). Additional analyses suggested trait social anxiety as a potential moderator. Although outperforming others may feel good, the good feelings may diminish when people are concerned about the outperformed person's response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research examined effects of receiving negative interpersonal feedback on state self-esteem, affect, and goal pursuit as a function of trait self-esteem and contingencies of self-worth. Two same-sex participants interacted with each other and then received negative feedback, ostensibly from the other participant, or no feedback, regarding their likeability. Participants then reported their state self-esteem, affect, and self-presentation goals - how they wanted to be perceived by others at the moment. Among participants who received negative feedback, those who more strongly based their self-worth on others' approval experienced lower state self-esteem, positive affect, and greater negative affect than those whose self-worth was less contingent on others' approval. Participants with low self-esteem showed greater desire to appear physically attractive to others the more they based self-worth on others' approval and received negative feedback. In contrast, participants with high self-esteem showed greater desire to appear warm/caring/kind the more they based self-worth on others' approval and received negative feedback. Implications for self-esteem, motivation, and interpersonal processes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents two studies that investigated the impact of the retrieval of self-defining memories on individuals' sense of self. Participants recalled positive and/or negative self-defining memories, rated memory characteristics and completed measures focusing on different self-aspects. Study 1 found that participants reported higher state self-esteem after recalling a positive memory than after recalling a negative one. They also reported lower negative self-consistency and higher state self-concept clarity and positive self-consistency, but this result became non-significant after controlling for state self-esteem. Study 2 found that participants reported higher state self-esteem, a marginally higher proportion of recreation/exploration, goals and a marginally lower proportion of achievement goals after recalling a positive memory than after recalling a negative one. They also reported a higher proportion of self-cognitions referring to emotional states after recalling memories from which they had not abstracted meaning than after recalling memories from which they had done this. These findings suggest that the retrieval of vivid, emotional and highly self-relevant memories may be accompanied by the activation of specific self-representations or working selves. They also suggest that the experience of memory-related intrusive images may temporarily influence individuals' sense of self. The implications of these findings for clinical practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted three studies to assess short-term and long-term effects of social comparative SNS use on self-esteem and depressive tendencies. In Study 1 (N = 75) we found in an exposure experiment including two experimental groups and one control group that social comparative internet use decreased participants' performance-oriented state self-esteem as a short-term effect. In Study 2 and 3 (Ns = 809, 145) results of the serial multiple mediator model indicated that passive Facebook use is associated with higher depressive tendencies mediated by a higher ability-related social comparison orientation and lower self-esteem as long-term effect. To obtain more generalisable findings, we transferred the serial multiple mediator model successfully from private to professional SNS use (Study 3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses self-affirmation theory to draw predictions about the effect of Facebook profile self-presentation on two psychological outcomes: users' state self-esteem and their performance in a cognitive task. In an experimental procedure, participants were randomly assigned to examine either their own profiles, which tend to highlight social connectedness and treasured aspects of the self, or a stranger's profile. Afterward, participants reported their self-esteem using an implicit measure that is immune to reporting biases, and completed a serial subtraction task. Results show that a brief exposure to one's own profile raised state self-esteem, but that it hampered performance in a subsequent cognitive task by decreasing the motivation to perform well. The results advance the emerging literature on the effects of online self-presentation and also provide a theoretical contribution to self-affirmation theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the grounding of self-esteem in self-regulation, their study concentrated on a specific set of self-efficacy beliefs, namely regulatory self-efficacy beliefs (Alessandri et al., [2]). Their data attested strong concurrent correlations between trait and state expressions of global self-esteem (GSE) and organizational-based self-esteem (OBSE), but no prospective associations. Over the last two decades, research on short-term self-esteem dynamics has increased and the value of considering the temporal expression of the construct has been widely documented (Alessandri et al., [3]). [Extracted from the article]

Compared to healthy people, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients participate less in paid jobs and social activities. This study explored the perceived autonomy, state self-esteem and labour participation in ESRD patients on dialysis, and the role illness and treatment perceptions play in these concepts. Patients completed questionnaires at home or in the dialysis centre (N = 166). Data were analysed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Labour participation among dialysis patients was low, the average autonomy levels were only moderate, and the average self-esteem level was rather high. On the whole, positive illness and treatment perceptions were associated with higher autonomy and self-esteem, but not with labour participation. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that illness and treatment perceptions explained 18 to 27% of the variance in autonomy and self-esteem. Perceptions of personal control, less impact of the illness and treatment, and less concern were important predictors. Our results indicate that dialysis patients' beliefs about their illness and treatment play an important role in their perceived autonomy and self-esteem. Stimulating positive (realistic) beliefs and altering maladaptive beliefs might contribute to a greater sense of autonomy and self-esteem, and to social participation in general. Interventions focusing on these beliefs may assist patients to adjust to ESRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent theorizing suggests that both competence and acceptance contribute to global self-esteem. However, relatively little empirical work has focused on the relative contributions of competence and acceptance. We tested in four studies (N = 332) two competing hypotheses about how competence and acceptance play a role in self-esteem. According to the acceptance hypothesis, acceptance should influence self-esteem more than competence should. According to the competence/acceptance hypothesis, acceptance and competence should influence self-esteem roughly equally. The studies assessed state self-esteem in several ways: responses to feedback in an experimental setting (Studies 1 and 2), predicted changes in self-esteem in response to hypothetical events (Study 3), and recall of changes in self-esteem in retrospective accounts (Study 4). Overall, results supported the acceptance hypothesis: acceptance influenced self-esteem more than did competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four studies tested whether a person's perceived relational value is influenced by other people's evaluations of his or her auxiliary companions (e.g., pets, favorite TV shows). Participants were exposed to their favorite media (Studies 1 and 2) or pets (Studies 3 and 4) being socially accepted, rejected, or neither. Participants' state self-esteem and satisfaction of basic needs (e.g., belonging, control) were measured before and after the manipulation to determine if social evaluations of their favorite media and pets changed their own relational value. The results revealed that participants' perceived relational value was influenced by social evaluations of their auxiliary companions, although positive changes (e.g., enhanced self-esteem) were found more reliably than negative changes. Inclusion of the pet or media entity in the self did not moderate the results. In conclusion, nonreciprocated (i.e., parasocial) and nonhuman relationships are meaningful and potent enough to influence one's feeling of social worth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used self-reported narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability and a component derived from 11 potential grandiosity and narcissism variables (GNVs) coded from Rorschach behavior to predict fluctuations in self-esteem and their links to anger and defensive reactions. We assessed state mood, state self-esteem, and performance attributions in 105 college students who underwent a self-esteem manipulation involving success followed by failure on cognitive testing. Self-reported grandiosity predicted the disavowal of effortful ability as a factor in failure, but we did not replicate other previously reported findings for this variable. Self-reported vulnerability predicted oscillations in self-reported mood and self-esteem. The GNV scale predicted spontaneously expressed hostility and externalization following self-esteem insult, and attributions mediated its relationship with anger expressed after failure. We discuss implications of these results and recommend additional replication research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the use of silhouettes in advertising is prevalent, knowledge about their impact on consumers is surprisingly limited. In this research, I propose that the use of human silhouettes, when compared to images of attractive human models, enhances advertising effectiveness by reducing the extent to which consumers experience self-threat when viewing an ad referent. In addition, I predict this effect holds only for appearance-related products and strengthens as consumers' level of appearance-related self-esteem decreases. Six studies reported in this research provide converging evidence in support of these expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looking back through the research I have conducted on the need to belong, I discovered three unpublished projects that might be of interest. At the time, each of these projects needed follow-up work to replicate findings and resolve fuzziness in their results, yet each addressed unexplored questions, generated useful findings, and offers directions for future research. These projects involved distinguishing the effects of social exclusion and low relational value on reactions to rejection, the effects of darkness on the need to belong, and the effect of acceptance and rejection on interpersonal aspirations. Knowing that I will not be digging deeper into these ideas myself, I describe them here to put them on the record and possibly stimulate further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study surveyed 1,000 married Emirati men and women to explore a model of marital satisfaction in relation to self-esteem, satisfaction with life, gender-role attitudes, and general health (physical and psychological). The Emirati Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMSS), State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Arabic General Health Questionnaire, and the Sex-Role Egalitarianism Scale were used. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the EMSS indicated a moderate fit of the data to one factor structure. CFA on SSES and SWLS indicated an adequate fit of the data to the four-factor solution and one factor, respectively. The structural equation model for the EMSS showed that both general health and gender-role attitudes predict marital satisfaction and that marital satisfaction seems to predict the individual’s well-being as measured by life satisfaction and self-esteem. These results are discussed within the context of the United Arab Emirates culture and directions for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imagery rescripting (ImRS) effectively targets intrusive images and symptoms in a number of disorders, but the mechanisms of change behind it are not yet clear. This study investigated the impact of ImRS on the characteristics of adverse self-defining memories and post-recall working selves in a non-clinical sample. In the first session, participants recalled an adverse memory and completed state self and affect measures. Then they attended an ImRS session and a follow-up session one week later. Participants rated their memory as less negative, less distressing and less important for their sense of self at follow-up compared to the first session. They also reported higher state self-esteem and positive affect, as well as reduced negative affect and anxiety after recalling the memory. Results suggest that, by modifying the meaning of adverse memories, ImRS may facilitate their integration with individuals’ sense of self and reduce the negative impact that they have on individuals’ online representation of the self when retrieved. An implication of these findings is that cognitive-behavioural therapy may need to conceptualise the self in broader terms, moving beyond core beliefs. To complement this, research could focus on changes in patients’ sense of self in order to understand the mechanisms through which interventions like ImRS work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive psychological research has clearly highlighted the importance of investigating factors that contribute to well-being. One factor contributing greatly to psychological well-being is mindfulness, which has been related to a wide range of positive outcomes, including healthy self-esteem. Here, we present two studies that aim to extend prior research on mindfulness and self-esteem. In Study 1, we propose and test a theoretically derived model of the role that mindfulness plays in the prediction of self-esteem and life satisfaction. Four facets of mindfulness significantly predicted increased self-esteem, which in turn predicted overall life satisfaction. In Study 2, we extended this study by examining the direct effects of a brief mindfulness induction on state self-esteem, and found that experimentally enhancing state mindfulness led to an increase in state self-esteem. The two studies presented clearly demonstrate that mindfulness and self-esteem are related, and, importantly, that mindfulness training has direct positive effects on self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-session emotional processing is a central component of psychotherapy, but little is known about the types and the quality of emotional processing individuals engage in daily life. An ecological momentary assessment (EMA) schedule has been validated to assess distinct emotional experiences as they emerge in daily life. It remains an open question whether changes observed in distinct emotional experiences over a week of assessment are related to in-session self-esteem. In total, N = 42 university students participated in a one-week assessment of emotions using ecological momentary assessment, as well as in a one-session experiential task of resolving self-criticism (using a two-chair dialogue from emotion-focused therapy). The emotions in daily life were self-reported by the participants on a regular basis, and self-esteem was assessed three times during the two-chair dialogue. Two-level hierarchical linear models reveal emotional changes in daily life, and in-session self-esteem is introduced as predictor at level 2. In-session self-esteem was correlated with symptom levels. The results showed that changes in primary maladaptive emotions in the one-week assessment were predicted by state and trait components of in-session self-esteem, which took place at the outset of the EMA. Trait-components of self-esteem were linked with the level of symptoms, whereas state-components of self-esteem were not. The present study underscores the importance of extending research from within-session observations of emotional processing towards daily life.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eisenstadt and Leippe (1994) and Eisenstadt, Leippe, and Rivers (2002) proposed that people respond to threatening feedback by engaging in a self-comparison process in which they ultimately accept or reject the feedback based on its refutability. The aims of the current study were to test the processes involved in: (a) specific feedback acceptance and refutation; and (b) compensatory adjustments in the self-concept following feedback. Participants received threatening feedback of high or low importance while under high or low cognitive load and then rated the self-descriptiveness of the specific feedback trait, non-feedback traits, affect, state self-esteem, and listed thoughts about the feedback. As hypothesized, counterarguments mediated acceptance of the specific feedback. Affect and state self-esteem, however, mediated compensatory adjustments in the self-concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses results of research studies on social identity theory's self-esteem hypothesis. Use of measures of global personal trait self-esteem in investigations of the hypothesis; Consistency of measures of specific social state self-esteem with social identity theory's assumptions.

Eighty-one participants were recruited to test the sensitivity of the mating sociometer to mate-value feedback in the context of ongoing intimate relationships. Experiences of social rejection/acceptance by attractive opposite-sex confederates were manipulated. The effects of this manipulation on self-esteem, relationship satisfaction and commitment, perceptions of dating alternatives, and friendship-dedication were assessed. Social rejection/acceptance by members of the opposite sex altered relationship satisfaction and commitment; this causal link was amplified by changes in state self-esteem; and these effects were specific to intimate relationships and did not generalize to friendship-dedication. This research supports a domain-specific conceptualization of sociometer theory, extending the theory in important directions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This research investigates travel calculated hedonism (TCH) in diverse tourism contexts. An extant literature review, five focus groups and two expert panels conceptualised TCH. Field studies operationalised TCH in drinking (N = 355), eating (N = 351), wellness (N = 330) and shopping (N = 337) contexts. Findings identified four TCH scale dimensions -- delaying rewards, planned impulsiveness, planned financial compulsiveness and planned time/physical compulsiveness. Theoretical definitions of TCH set the groundwork for rationalised binging that is cognitive- and affect-driven. The methodology presents an approach for a rigorous TCH measure. The TCH scale offers a tool for practitioners to design activities that instigate rationalised binging and responsible behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although mindfulness research has burgeoned, questions regarding the development of mindfulness remain largely unanswered. Mindfulness correlates negatively with the anxiety and avoidance dimensions of adult attachment and positively with autonomy, competence, and relatedness, the three primary psychological needs postulated by self-determination theory. It was hypothesized that secure attachment style and autonomy orientation would predict higher levels of self-reported mindfulness. After accounting for age, state self-esteem, and meditation practice, autonomy orientation predicted higher levels of self-reported mindfulness whereas secure attachment was no longer related to mindfulness. State self-esteem was found to be an important variable in understanding mindfulness. Results suggest mindfulness might be an innate construct that can be developed over time and enhanced by practice. Further, autonomy orientation and high self-esteem may foster the development of mindfulness in those with little to no meditation/mindfulness practice. Additional research is needed to clarify the roles of autonomy, attachment style, and self-esteem in the development of mindfulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a new manipulation of self-affirmation that is simple to use, can be employed when circumstances prevent pre-screening or using essay-based methods, and has a highly equivalent control task. In the process, we addressed theoretical and empirical questions highlighted in a recent review as requiring attention. In comparison to five controls, the manipulation promoted positive changes on measures designed to test whether people are self-affirmed. It produced a similar pattern on these measures to an existing self-affirmation manipulation. The matched control also performed well. There was no evidence of mediation by mood or state self-esteem or moderation by trait self-esteem. We discuss the potential of the method and associated dependent measures in future self-affirmation research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable evidence now indicates that poignant self-threats cause compensatory zeal about opinions, values, goals, groups, and self-worth. Evidence for the self-threat→zeal link is reviewed from research on zealous reactions to epistemic, self-worth, relationship, and mortality salience threats. Two new studies demonstrate that zealous pride and conviction insulate individuals from concern with uncertainty threats. The new studies further demonstrate that this insulation effect does not result from distraction, mood, or state self-esteem. It is proposed that the appeal of zeal arises from its ability to activate the approach-motivation system and to down-regulate the avoidance motivation system's vigilant concern with threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theory and research indicate upward comparisons can negatively influence self-evaluation and that people actively employ various protective strategies to mitigate the effect of such comparisons. This study examined whether people experiencing threatening comparisons dissemble personal information as a self-presentation strategy to portray a positive outward image. It was hypothesized that upward comparisons influence participants' self-image and consequently the frequency of untruthful statements they employ as part of their self-presentation efforts. Specifically, participants received feedback that they did better (or worse) than another individual and were led to believe this individual would evaluate them based on questionnaire responses. In support of the hypotheses, results indicated that the frequency of deceptions significantly increased and self-esteem and mood decreased when participants encountered threatening comparison information. Findings also showed that the relationship between upward comparison situations and the use of untruthful information as a self-presentation strategy was partially mediated by state self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both theory and previous research suggest a link between emotional intelligence and emotional well-being. Emotional intelligence includes the ability to understand and regulate emotions; emotional well-being includes positive mood and high self-esteem. Two studies investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence and mood, and between emotional intelligence and self-esteem. The results of these studies indicated that higher emotional intelligence was associated with characteristically positive mood and higher self-esteem. The results of a third study indicated that higher emotional intelligence was associated with a higher positive mood state and greater state self-esteem. The third study also investigated the role of emotional intelligence in mood and self-esteem regulation and found that individuals with higher emotional intelligence showed less of a decrease in positive mood and self-esteem after a negative state induction using the Velten method, and showed more of an increase in positive mood, but not in self-esteem, after a positive state induction. The findings were discussed in the light of previous work on emotional intelligence, and recommendations were made for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers strongly prefer brands that resonate with their own self-concepts, life tasks, themes, and concerns; in response, brands increasingly seek to connect with multiple aspects of their target marketsʻ self-concepts. Considering these ongoing developments, current conceptualisations of self-congruity in marketing may be inadequate, in that they tend to feature a unidimensional construct, based primarily on personality. Therefore, the current article proposes and confirms the appropriateness of a multidimensional conceptualisation of the self-concept, adopted from psychology literature, that is comprised of personality, beliefs, interests, social roles, aspirations, and abilities. For managers, this article shows how expanding self-congruity dimensions beyond personality provides opportunities for evoking stronger perceptions of congruence among consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the contextual effects on the judgment of others' attractiveness and self-evaluation among Japanese university students who rated their body satisfaction and self-esteem following exposure to various attractiveness stimuli. Contrast effect in men and women; Prevalence of Western-based attractiveness comparison processes; State Self-esteem Scale; Body Esteem Scale.

This study examines the role of the popular job searching website LinkedIn and its effects on personal branding, self-esteem and job search behavior self-efficacy. The experiment examined the pre and post changes of these constructs after participants completed a LinkedIn training workshop and found statistically significant results for the experimental group. These findings suggest that career development professionals should consider incorporating LinkedIn training workshops as a means of enhancing employees' personal brands and job search behavior self-efficacy. The results also highlight the potential of technological interventions in career development. Future research should explore the long-term effects of LinkedIn training on personal branding and job search outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient stress response comprises both quick reactivity and rapid recovery. Studies have found an enhanced stress response in Chinese people with high interdependent self-construal (ISC). ISC is a personality trait that is well-matched with Chinese collectivistic culture, and whether they exhibit an efficient stress response has not been exclusively examined. We conducted a novel experiment to examine the stress response change rate in Chinese participants with varying levels of ISC，then performed a validation analysis against previous data to examine the reliability of current results. In our experiment, 84 healthy (42 high-ISC and 42 low-ISC), young, native Chinese were randomly assigned to either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), or the control condition. In the published study, 46 native Chinese participants (23 high-ISC and 23 low-ISC) had undergone the TSST. Data were collected throughout the two experiments. Compared to low-ISC participants, cortisol and subjective stress levels in high-ISC participants peaked sooner and declined rapidly, suggesting quick stress reactivity and rapid recovery. This finding was supported by the previous study. High-ISC individuals display an efficient stress response pattern, manifested by fast reactivity and rapid recovery, which may be adaptive in Chinese collectivistic culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-compassion involves treating oneself kindly, acknowledging that all humans experience suffering, and maintaining a balanced awareness of negative thoughts and feelings. Three studies (N = 614) examined the potential role of self-compassion in response to interpersonal rejection. Study 1 recruited a large, diverse internet sample and explored relationships between general perceived acceptance and several outcome variables (affect, depression, self-esteem), testing whether self-compassion moderates these relationships. Similarly, Study 2 tested whether self-compassion moderates the relationships between daily acceptance/rejection and outcome variables. Finally, Study 3 tested whether a self-compassion manipulation effectively promotes coping with rejection. Taken together, results reveal that self-compassion both predicts (Studies 1 and 2) and promotes (Study 3) relatively adaptive responses to rejection. These results suggest that a self-compassionate mindset may lessen the sting of rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental disorders negatively affect employee well-being and organizational performance. Organizations face a challenge in terms of how to manage mental health. This paper clarifies three issues (underlying patterns, trends, and impact of COVID-19) regarding the scientific study of mental health in organizations from a healthcare analytics framework. The framework comprises eight stages considering a text-driven approach with scientific corpora assisted by linguistic/computational and statistical resources. This study discovers a new taxonomic model comprising five patterns in the scientific discourse on the topic. Trend analyses reveal imbalances and concerns regarding the interests associated with the patterns, which is reinforced by examining patterns "before" and "during" COVID-19. This paper complements psychological/epidemiological studies on mental health in organizations from a healthcare analytics perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The desire to become famous was examined among individuals with stable and unstable forms of self-esteem. Participants were 181 female undergraduates who completed measures of self-esteem level and fame interest along with daily measures of state self-esteem (i.e., how an individual feels about oneself at the present moment) for seven consecutive days. Our results show that individuals who possess unstable high self-esteem reported a stronger desire to become famous than did those with stable high self-esteem. These findings suggest the intriguing possibility that individuals with unstable high self-esteem may want to become famous as a means for gaining external validation. Implications of these findings for understanding the connection between self-esteem and the desire for fame are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study extends research on the Cognitive-Emotional Theory of Esteem Support Messages (CETESM) and examines the role of esteem support during the job search. Unemployed, underemployed, and/or displaced job seekers (N=197) recalled an esteem support message they had received during their job search. Messages were coded using a scheme derived from the CETESM. Results indicate that helpful messages (i.e., those that enhanced state self-esteem related to the job search) were significantly more likely than unhelpful messages to contain message features predicted by the CETESM. Helpful messages were also associated with greater job search activity than were unhelpful messages. Theoretical implications, as well as pragmatic implications for those who wish to support job seekers, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]