Low self-esteem during adolescence predicts poor health, criminal behavior, and limited economic prospects during adulthood.

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Abstract
Using prospective data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study birth cohort, the authors found that adolescents with low self-esteem had poorer mental and physical health, worse economic prospects, and higher levels of criminal behavior during adulthood, compared with adolescents with high self-esteem. The long-term consequences of self-esteem Could not be explained by adolescent depression, gender, or socioeconomic status. Moreover, the findings held when the outcome variables were assessed using objective measures and informant reports; therefore, the findings cannot be explained by shared method variance in self-report data. The findings suggest that low self-esteem during adolescence predicts negative real-world consequences during adulthood.
Funding Information
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH45070; MH49414)
  • William T. Grant Foundation
  • Medical Research Council
  • National Institute of Aging (AG022057-01)