Forschungsprojekt ::

Integrating Long- and Short-Term Dynamics in Global and Domain-Specific Self-Esteem

Projektbeschreibung

Self-esteem is a key factor in psychological functioning, significantly affecting mental health, well-being, and social relationships. Structurally, researchers have distinguished global self-esteem, reflecting individuals’ overall self-worth, and domain-specific self-esteem, reflecting individuals’ self-worth linked to specific domains (e.g., social, performance, physical domain). Regarding a temporal differentiation, state self-esteem, reflecting momentary perceptions of self-worth, and trait self-esteem, reflecting relatively enduring perceptions of self-worth, have been studied. Findings on the interrelations of global and domain-specific self-esteem on the state and trait-level, however, are still either incomplete or inconclusive: On the state level, most research examined global state self-esteem and social feedback (e.g., perceived social in-/exclusion as self-esteem predictor). This narrow focus, however, has overlooked self-observations and social comparisons as potential additional sources of state self-esteem, experiences related to the other domains, and within-person processes in domain-specific state self-esteem. On the trait level, findings are still inconclusive as to whether global self-esteem has an impact on domain-specific self-esteem (top-down) and/or vice versa (bottom-up), and how state processes (e.g., variability, reactivities) feed into trait self-esteem and its development. Aiming to extend existing literature, this project integrates short- and long-term dynamics in global and domain-specific self-esteem to provide comprehensive insights on adult self-esteem functioning. We will employ innovative ambulatory assessment methods in two intensive longitudinal studies that implement joint assessments of both experience-sampling and end-of-day reports. Study 1 will serve as pilot study and will combine one burst of ambulatory assessments with two trait assessments. Study 2 will serve as the main study and will combine four bursts of ambulatory assessments with five trait assessments across three distinct samples and approximately 1 year. Using hierarchical linear modeling, this intensive longitudinal, multimethod approach will provide crucial integrative insights into how global and domain-specific state and trait self-esteem interact dynamically, offering a more nuanced and complete picture of self-esteem and its development in young adulthood. In conclusion, this project is timely and relevant as it centers around self-esteem, a core and consequential component of psychological functioning, and fills critical gaps in our theoretical understanding of self-esteem dynamics in daily life. These insights will not only advance theoretical understanding but also inform practical applications in counseling, psychotherapy, and self-esteem training programs.