A Query into the Relationship between Gender and Self Esteem in Adolescent Females

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competence and relatedness following behind. Ranking at the bottom of the list were popularity, wealth and luxury.
The magnitude of self-esteem relates not only to the mental and psychological well being of an individual, but also in her health and behavior. The National
Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, states that teenagers are less likely to engage in risky behaviors if they possess a high sense of self-esteem. Factors such as diet and nutrition, sexual behavior, family relationships, use of health services, violence, and substance abuse were observed to determine the frequency of occurrence and potential explanations. Researchers found that if a teenager felt close to her parents, worked a job less than twenty hours per week and placed a strong emphasis on religion and prayer, she was less likely to involve herself in behaviors which are objectionable and more likely to view themselves positively.
Building self-esteem starts from birth. The way parents treat a child, as well as the environment and their behavior around the child are decisive factors in determining how children will come to view themselves. A solid foundation of self-esteem stems from a sense of connectedness to others, balanced with a strong sense of self-separate from
others. If a child is raised in a family where there is not enough money to insure
basic living standards, not only will she be deprived, but she may also come to view
herself as a burden. These children face other obstacles that those born into financially secure families do not. Even though parents may devote the majority of their time and efforts to providing for a child, the child may still miss out on valuable time with her parents. The lack of this bond with parents and security may lead to increased anxiety in a young child unsure of where the next meal is coming from. There is also a social s...