The Developmental Trajectory of Self-Esteem Across the Life Span in Japan: Age Differences in Scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale From Adolescence to Old Age

Dental Aesthetics and Self-Esteem of Patients Seeking Orthodontic Treatment

(1) Objective: This study aimed to investigate how patients' perceptions of their dental aesthetics and their sense of self-esteem are related. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional survey recruited 141 new patients seeking orthodontic treatment. Patients completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of three parts: the Malaysian Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES-M), and Aesthetics Component of the Index of Orthodontics Treatment Need (IOTN-AC). Clinical assessment comprised the Dental Health Component of the Index of Orthodontics Treatment Need (IOTN-DHC). Multiple linear regression was performed, with self-esteem as the dependent variable, while the independent variables comprised the domains of PIDAQ; IOTN-AC; IOTN-DHC; and patients' demographics, such as age, gender, and their level of education. (3) Results: The response rate was 96.5% (n = 136 respondents). The multiple linear regression found that, when the other predictors in the model are held constant, Social Impact, Aesthetic Concern, and Dental Self-Confidence are the factors that significantly contributed to explaining the variation in self-esteem, accounting for, 3.9%, 2.3%, and 2.0%, respectively. The entire model explained 23% of the variation in self-esteem. (4) Conclusions: Domains of the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics act as predictors of self-esteem in orthodontic treatment-seeking patients.

The effect of sociodemographic characteristics, academic factors, and individual health behaviors on psychological well-being among college students

Objective: This study aimed to measure the potential relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, academic factors, body mass index (BMI), financial challenges, individual health behaviors, impact of COVID-19, and psychological well-being (PWB) among students. Participants: Undergraduate college students. Methods: Data from the National College Health Assessment III (American College Health Association [ACHA]) were used (n = 1,439). Differences in absolute values among PWB groups were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). To measure the influence of all factors combined on PWB, multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: Significant differences were observed in age, GPA, financial challenges, and individual health behaviors by PWB groups (p < .05). Being older, being female, having a higher GPA, being a full-time student, having a higher intake of vegetables, taking less time to fall asleep, and having lower stress levels were significantly positively associated with higher PWB scores (p < .05). Conclusions: Multiple considerations related to the academic environment and individual behaviors seem to influence PWB among college students.

Longitudinal trajectories of self-esteem, related predictors, and impact on depression among students over a four-year period at college in China

Self-esteem plays a crucial role in the psychological development of college students. Based on four-wave longitudinal data, this study empirically investigated the longitudinal trajectories of self-esteem, related predictors, and the impact on depression in a sample of Chinese college students. Piecewise growth mixture modeling was utilized to identify potential self-esteem trajectories. Furthermore, multinomial logistic regression models were employed along with the Kruskal‒Wallis test to analyze the factors that influence self-esteem development trajectories and assess variations in depression. The results showed that college students’ self-esteem trajectories can be divided into three categories: slowly decreasing (81.04%), rising then falling (16.94%), and falling then rising (2.02%). Various personal factors (e.g. ethnicity, family residence, self-reported health status, extroversion) and socioeconomic factors (e.g. closeness with classmates, family economic level, family social status, and the mother’s educational level) can influence the classification of students’ self-esteem development trajectories. Moreover, notable differences in depression were observed among students in different self-esteem trajectory groups. The results emphasize the imperative of implementing interventions to enhance self-esteem among college students.

Self-esteem and body image satisfaction in women with PCOS in the Middle East: Cross-sectional social media study

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age, associated with increased incidence of emotional disorders, anxiety and depression.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was of this study was to investigate whether those women reporting PCOS differed to women without PCOS in measures of psychological well-being including body-image satisfaction and self-esteem across a Middle Eastern population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online survey link of 21 questions was shared and distributed across social media platforms (Instagram and WhatsApp). The main outcome measured was levels of self-esteem and body image satisfaction in association with symptoms experienced by the participants.

RESULTS

12,199 female subjects completed the survey of whom 3,329 respondents (27.3%) self-reported a diagnosis of PCOS. PCOS respondents felt less attractive compared to non-PCOS respondents (73.9% vs 80.5%, p<0.0001). More respondents with PCOS reported avoidance of their reflection in the mirror (61.7% vs 49.8%, p<0.001) and avoidance of social interactions (22.3% vs 32.3%, p<0.0001). More PCOS respondents wanted to lose weight (75.2% vs 68.5%, p<0.001) with increasing weight being associated with being less attractive (p<0.001). Fewer PCOS respondents felt satisfied/confident compared non-PCOS respondents (38.6% vs 50.7%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

PCOS respondents reported significantly lower measures of self-esteem and body image satisfaction compared to non-PCOS respondents in this population.

Self-esteem among Individuals with Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

Purpose

Self-esteem is important for decision making, emotional health, and overall well-being. In individuals with hearing loss (HL), self-esteem may vary due to degree of HL, hearing devices, academic set-ups and communication strategies used by family members. This study aimed to systematically review the impact of hearing loss on self-esteem.

Method

A systematic search was conducted to identify the studies focusing on self-esteem of the individuals with HL. Four electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL, were used. Title screening and abstract reading were performed by two independent authors. Appropriate studies were considered for full-length reading. The references of the obtained articles were manually searched to identify eligible studies. A mixed-methods appraisal tool was used to critically appraise the included studies.

Results

Out of 1219, twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Individuals with HL exposed to total communication had a positive impact on self-esteem. Interestingly, hearing competence of parents and siblings was linked with their self-esteem. Children with HL have higher self-esteem than normal-hearing children. Children with HL attending mainstream schooling and using cochlear implants had positive and higher self-esteem. Further, higher education level, employment, and marital status were effectively associated with self-esteem.

Conclusion

Positive self-esteem intensely improves mental and emotional well-being. Appropriate and timely provided rehabilitation accompanied by family support can induce healthier and more fulfilling social life. Additionally, healthy self-esteem can empower individuals with HL to engage in social activities diligently. To sum up, early intervention and family participation are required to improve overall quality of life.

Fun in a Box? Loneliness and Adolescents' Problematic Smartphone Use: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of the Underlying Mechanisms

Addictive smartphone use is one of the most concerning behaviors among adolescents. The present study investigated the indirect effects of self-esteem and boredom proneness and the moderating role of the need to belong on the link between loneliness and addictive smartphone use (ASU). Our sample included 357 adolescents aged 12 to 19 (Mage = 15.56, SD = 1.01, 57.42% males) from ten public schools in Romania. We used a moderated mediation approach, with moderation of the both second mediation paths and the direct effect path. Results suggested that the influence of loneliness on ASU was statistically significant and partially mediated both by self-esteem and boredom proneness. Adolescents' need to belong significantly moderated the positive association between boredom proneness and ASU, and the direct negative association between loneliness and ASU; however, it did not moderate the negative association between self-esteem and ASU. Thus, high levels of the need to belong also increased the influence of boredom proneness on AUS and had a marginally significant effect on the relation between loneliness and ASU. These results suggested that adolescents' need to belong, self-esteem, and boredom proneness might contribute to developing ASU. Interventions centered around countering the adverse effects of excessive technology use ought to consider group activities that facilitate social bonding to satisfy the participants' need to belong, reduce their levels of boredom, and, thus, reduce the risk of developing ASU symptoms.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Stress and Self-Esteem on Primary Dysmenorrhea in Korean Adolescent Girls: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Background

Positive and negative emotions have recently revealed a link with primary dysmenorrhea in adults. Among them, roles of stress and self-esteem have been less studied specially in adolescents and the direction of causality has not been clearly established. Therefore, this study investigated whether stress and self-esteem independently affect primary dysmenorrhea after adjustment for the known risk factors in adolescents. Additionally, indirect effects of stress and self-esteem were determined using mediation analyses.

Methods

This survey was conducted in adolescent girls aged 15-18 yr in metropolitan regions in South Korea in 2021. The survey included general, menstrual, and lifestyle characteristics, menstrual pain and symptom, perceived stress, self-esteem, depression, and state-trait anxiety.

Results

Stress, depression, and anxiety were associated positively with menstrual pain and symptom (all P<0.001) in adolescent girls (n=519). Self-esteem was also associated inversely with negative emotions and dysmenorrhea (all P<0.001). Additionally, stress independently affected frequency and severity of menstrual symptom (both P<0.05), but not pain intensity after adjustment for covariates. Stress also had indirect effect through depression and anxiety on menstrual pain and symptom. Effect of self-esteem vanished after adjustment for covariates, but indirectly reduced menstrual pain and symptom through mediations of stress, depression, and anxiety.

Conclusion

Mental health such as stress and self-esteem are important for managing menstrual pain and symptom in adolescents. It should be considered in managing dysmenorrhea.

A hyaluronic acid-based micro-filler improves superficial wrinkles and skin quality: a randomized prospective controlled multicenter study

BACKGROUND

NCTF®135HA is a bio-revitalizing solution containing hyaluronic acid designed to compensate for skin dehydration, fatigue, and fine wrinkles associated with endogenous and environmental aging.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized, active-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of NCTF®135HA injections on the face (crow's feet), neck, and décolleté regions. Subjects were randomly assigned (3:1) to receive three NCTF®135HA treatment sessions plus twice-daily anti-aging moisturizer cream or cream alone (control). The primary outcome was the reduction in superficial wrinkles between baseline and Day (D)75 in the three areas, assessed by profilometric measures, clinical scoring, subjective changes, and tolerability.

RESULTS

146 subjects were randomized to NCTF®135HA (n = 107) or control (n = 38). At D75 and D120, NCTF®135HA significantly reduced wrinkles in all three areas and improved facial radiance scores compared with the control. Skin hydration significantly increased 7 d after the last NCTF®135HA injection. Self-esteem scales showed statistically significant improvements at D75 and D120 in subjects treated with NCTF®135HA versus baseline. Most adverse events were mild, resolved within 48 h, and were related to the injection procedure.

CONCLUSION

NCTF®135HA is an effective and well-tolerated treatment to reduce the skin signs of aging. The results are significantly superior to a routine anti-aging cream alone.(Funded by Laboratories FILLMED; ID-RCB number: 2018-A03167-48; clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT05609617).

Historical changes in baby names in China

Based on previous research on names and naming practices, I propose three suggestions to Bao et al. (2021), which investigated historical changes in given names of Han Chinese in China between 1920 and 2005. Their study analyzed a one-shot cross-sectional survey conducted in 2005 and reported that unique names increased from 1920 to 2005. The authors concluded that China became more individualistic over time for the period. However, three questions have remained unanswered in Bao et al. (2021). First, were the samples of older birth cohorts truly representative? Second, did unique names increase only after the 1970s? Third, how are the historical changes in average name length interpreted? Answering these three questions would contribute to a further understanding of the historical changes in given names and their underlying psychological/cultural shifts in China.

Daily life and psychosocial functioning of adults with congenital heart disease: a 40-53 years after surgery follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, more than 90% of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) reach adulthood. However, knowledge about their psychosocial functioning is limited.

METHODS

Longitudinal cohort study of patients (n = 204, mean age: 50 years, 46.1% female) who were operated during childhood (< 15 years) between 1968 and 1980 for one of the following diagnoses: atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, tetralogy of Fallot or transposition of the great arteries. Psychosocial functioning was measured every 10 years, using standardized and validated questionnaires. Results were compared with the general Dutch population and over time.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 45 [40-53] years adults with CHD had a significantly lower educational level, occupation level and employment rate, but better health-related quality of life and emotional functioning compared with normative data. Patients with moderate/severe defects reported significantly more self-perceived physical restrictions and lack of physical strength due to their CHD. Compared to 2011, in 2021 patients considered their CHD as more severe and they felt more often disadvantaged.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, despite a lower education, occupation level and employment rate, our sample of patients with CHD had a positive perception of their life and  their psychosocial functioning was even better than the norm. Although the quality of life was very good, their view on their disease was more pessimistic than 10 years ago, especially for patients with moderate/severe CHD.

When do persuasive messages on vaccine safety steer COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and recommendations? Behavioural insights from a randomised controlled experiment in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION

Vaccine safety is a primary concern among vaccine-hesitant individuals. We examined how seven persuasive messages with different frames, all focusing on vaccine safety, influenced Malaysians to accept the COVID-19 vaccine, and recommend it to individuals with different health and age profiles; that is, healthy adults, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions.

METHODS

A randomised controlled experiment was conducted from 29 April to 7 June 2021, which coincided with the early phases of the national vaccination programme when vaccine uptake data were largely unavailable. 5784 Malaysians were randomly allocated into 14 experimental arms and exposed to one or two messages that promoted COVID-19 vaccination. Interventional messages were applied alone or in combination and compared against a control message. Outcome measures were assessed as intent to both take the vaccine and recommend it to healthy adults, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions, before and after message exposure. Changes in intent were modelled and we estimated the average marginal effects based on changes in the predicted probability of responding with a positive intent for each of the four outcomes.

RESULTS

We found that persuasive communication via several of the experimented messages improved recommendation intentions to people with pre-existing health conditions, with improvements ranging from 4 to 8 percentage points. In contrast, none of the messages neither significantly improved vaccination intentions, nor recommendations to healthy adults and the elderly. Instead, we found evidence suggestive of backfiring among certain outcomes with messages using negative attribute frames, risky choice frames, and priming descriptive norms.

CONCLUSION

Message frames that briefly communicate verbatim facts and stimulate rational thinking regarding vaccine safety may be ineffective at positively influencing vaccine-hesitant individuals. Messages intended to promote recommendations of novel health interventions to people with pre-existing health conditions should incorporate safety dimensions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05244356.

Predicting the severity of peer victimization and bullying perpetration among youth with interpersonal problems: A 6-month prospective study

INTRODUCTION

Peer victimization is prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes. In this prospective study of youth who self-reported interpersonal problems, we examined school connectedness, school behavioral difficulties, academic difficulties, and internalizing problems (social anxiety, self-esteem, depression) as predictors of peer victimization and bullying perpetration severity. We also examined the moderating effects of gender.

METHODS

Participants were 218 youth (66.5% female), ages 12-15 years (M = 13.5, SD = 1.1), who screened positive for peer victimization, bullying perpetration, and/or low social connectedness using self-report measures. Youth were recruited from an emergency department in the United States as part of an intervention trial. Youth identified primarily as African American (53.7%) and Caucasian (31.7%). Youth completed a 6-month follow-up assessment (75% retention). Separate Bayesian regression models were used to examine the effects of baseline school connectedness, school behavioral difficulties, academic difficulties, and internalizing problems on the severity of 6-month peer victimization and bullying perpetration.

RESULTS

Baseline depression was positively related to both peer victimization and bullying perpetration severity. Baseline behavioral problems were positively related to bullying perpetration severity. Interactions indicated that gender moderated the relationship between school connectedness and peer victimization.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the adverse outcomes linked with peer victimization and bullying perpetration, an improved understanding of factors that predict victimization and perpetration severity may be helpful in defining intervention targets.

Modification of the Rosenberg Scale to Assess Self-Esteem in Children

Rosenberg's scale (RSES) is widely used to assess global self-esteem (SE) in adults and adolescents but is not validated for children <12 years. This study assessed the internal consistency, convergent validity, and factor structure of a modified RSES for schoolchildren (CRSES) aged 7–12 years. A total of 711 children aged 9.0 ± 1.5 years completed the CRSES; a subset (n = 417) also completed a life satisfaction (LS) scale. Data were submitted for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and tests of factorial invariance by sex. Two-way ANOVA compared scores by age-group and sex; whilst Pearson's correlations examined the relationship between LS and SE. Following the use of modification indices the fit for the global SE model met the goodness of fit statistic criteria: χ(27, n = 711) = 77.22; χ^normed = 2.860 CFI = 0.961; RMSEA = 0.051 with 90% CI = 0.038-0.065; SRMR = 0.037; and displayed respectable internal consistency (α = 0.79). The model was also factorially invariant by sex. SE scores did not vary sex (p > 0.05); but were significantly reduced in children aged 9–10 and 11–12 years compared to children aged 7–8 years. The global SE score was significantly correlated (r = 0.51; P < 0.001) with LS. The current version of the CRSES can reliably examine global SE in children aged 7–12 years; extending the use of the RSES to allow tracking across the life course.