Self-esteem Instability and Psychological Adjustment

The psychological adjustment of individuals with stable and unstable forms of self-esteem was examined across three studies using undergraduate participants. Study 1 (N = 122) included indicators of global distress and aggression; Study 2 (N = 199) focused on depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and rejection sensitivity; and Study 3 (N = 183) examined global distress, affect, and psychological well-being. Across each study, unstable self-esteem was found to moderate the association between self-esteem level and psychological adjustment. The pattern of these findings suggests that individuals with unstable low self-esteem are especially likely to experience dejection, whereas those with unstable high self-esteem are likely to experience agitation.