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Self-esteem and life satisfaction in adolescents—gender and age as potential moderators

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Abstract

Purpose

The present paper investigated gender differences on life satisfaction and self-esteem as well as the association between self-esteem and life satisfaction in Norwegian adolescents aged 13–18 years. The potential moderating role of gender and age in the relation between self-esteem and life satisfaction was also investigated.

Methods

A total of 1,239 adolescents from public elementary and secondary schools in mid-Norway participated in the school-based survey study. Mean score differences on the variables used in the study were tested using t tests. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between self-esteem and life satisfaction, controlled for gender, age, stress, subjective health, and chronic health conditions.

Results

The results showed that boys scored higher than girls on both self-esteem and life satisfaction. Self-esteem was positively associated with life satisfaction, explaining 24 % of the variance. However, no interaction effect of gender × self-esteem or age × self-esteem was found in relation to life satisfaction.

Conclusion

The results give support for that boys report higher self-esteem and life satisfaction than girls. Self-esteem has a positive role in association with adolescents’ life satisfaction, and this relationship is equally strong for both genders and across age.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Health Promotion and Resources HiST/NTNU, Sør-Trøndelag University College, 7030, Trondheim, Norway

    Unni K. Moksnes & Geir A. Espnes

  2. Faculty of Nursing, Sør-Trøndelag University College, Trondheim, Norway

    Unni K. Moksnes

  3. Department of Social Work and Health Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Geir A. Espnes

Authors
  1. Unni K. Moksnes
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  2. Geir A. Espnes
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Correspondence to Unni K. Moksnes.

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Moksnes, U.K., Espnes, G.A. Self-esteem and life satisfaction in adolescents—gender and age as potential moderators. Qual Life Res 22, 2921–2928 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-013-0427-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-013-0427-4

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