Question

Why would a person’s self-esteem affect his or her health

Answer 1

Let's talk about "self esteem" first.

Our SELF ESTEEM is basically how much we believe that we are worth, to society, to the people around us, and to ourselves.

It's how we generally feel about ourselves.

And you might have heard that a person can have "high" self esteem, or "low" self esteem.

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There are two things that we need to know:

1. Our self esteem affects our emotions.

2. Our self esteem influences our behavior.

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Someone with LOW self esteem tends to view themselves in a negative way.

When they think of themselves, they feel sad, angry, and disappointed,
more often than happy, and satisfied.

And in turn, it makes this person very prone, very susceptible to mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

Because not only does someone with low self esteem feel poorly about themselves,
but they also tend to believe that others look down upon them.

Obviously, untreated mental disorders can get in the way of a healthy and meaningful life.

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As I mentioned before,
self esteem also influences our behavior.
It has an effect on the things that we choose to do, in everyday life.

There are many examples.

Here's one:

One of my psychology professors, from college, actually conducted a study on self esteem, and how it relates to sexual risk behavior.

She found that WOMEN with LOW self esteem actually tend to engage in more risk behaviors,
such as not using protection when having sex.

The reason may be that women, with low self esteem, hope to gain the favor of the men they're sleeping with, by choosing not to use sex protection,
because sex protection is thought to make sex feel less pleasurable.

And last time I checked, STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) are BAD,
for both your physical health, and your emotional health.


Here's another example:

Imagine that you're being invited to go out with your friends.
It's a big party, and there will be lots of people.

If you had LOW self esteem, you might think things like...

"What's the point of going? I won't meet anyone."
"I'll just be weird and awkward."
"Nobody's gonna like me."
"No one will wanna talk to someone like me. It'll be boring."

And, as a result, you may choose not to go to a party.

The reality is that social events hold a potential for happiness.
If we go out to a social event, and we end up having fun,
then it could actually help to boost our mood, as well as our mental health.

On the other hand,
a lack of socialization and interaction could actually weigh down on our health,
especially if we happen to have extroverted personalities.

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So, again,
there are two facts about self esteem that are important here:

1. Self esteem affects our emotions.

2. Self esteem influences our behaviors.

A person with low self esteem is more prone to mental disorders
like depression and anxiety.

And a person with low self esteem is less likely to engage in behaviors that promote a healthy lifestyle, and allow more chance for happiness.