Baseline instability of self-esteem and self-concept in late adolescence

The present study explored the relationship between baseline instability of self-esteem and self-concept in late adolescence. Three times in 1 month, university students (N = 243; average age 19.5 years +/- 1.3 years) completed 2 instruments : the TS (Two-Sided)-WHY method, and the Mizokami Self-Evaluation Scale. From the resulting data, the relationship between instability of self-esteem and self-concept was examined. The results showed that instablility of positive and negative self-esteem differed, depending on the extent of self-concepts and categories in each dimension. These results suggest that an intervention in the stability of individuals' self-esteem and self-concept may be effective for increasing positive self-esteem and decreasing negative self-esteem. However, instability of self-esteem is not necessarily negative, in that it gives individuals an opportunity to examine their self-concept and create important self-concepts.