Psychological Development and Education ›› 2014, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 435-441.

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The Relationship between Self-esteem and Psychosocial Stress Response: The Mediating Role of The Need for Social Approval

CHEN Yu1,2, REN Guo-fang3,4, LI Hai-jiang1,2, YANG Yu1,2, GUAN Li-li1,2, HU Xin-yu1,2, YANG Juan1,2   

  1. 1. Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715;
    2. Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715;
    3. Department of Education, Anyang Normal University, Henan 455000;
    4. Mental Health Education and Counselling Center, Anyang Normal University, Henan 455000
  • Online:2014-07-15 Published:2014-07-15

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Abstract: Self-esteem has been found to affect the neuroendocrine cortisol response to stress in different ways. Some researches have suggested that individuals with high self-esteem exhibited significantly stress response than those with low self-esteem. Both individuals' heart rate and their cortisol response were positively related to individuals' level of self-esteem. In addition, researchers also observed that subjects with low self-esteem and low levels of internal locus of control exhibited a significant cortisol response than those with high self-esteem. However, the mechanism between self-esteem and the psychosocial stress response, and the potential mediation effects of social approval and/or locus of control between self-esteem and psychosocial stress have never been explored. This study attempted to examine the relation among self-esteem, locus of control, social approval needs, and psychosocial stress response.Forty one healthy male and female volunteers were recruited in the present study. Participants' heart rate were recorded during they performed the standardized Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Internality Scale, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale were also measured. Path analyses via structural equation model using Amos 5.0 were conducted to test the potential mediation effect of social approval needs and/or locus of control in the relationship between self-esteem and psychosocial stress response. Results showed that both participants' subjective stress response and their heart rate elevated after experiencing TSST. Further, heart rate of participants was positively correlated with their self-esteem level when at the prepared stage of TSST. Results from structural equation analyses suggested that social approval needs mediated the relationship between self-esteem and psychosocial stress response. The mediation effect of locus of control was not supported. Interpersonal theories of self-esteem assume that it is not just one's own judgment of the importance of particular characteristics that contributes to self-esteem but also one's assumptions regarding the importance that others place on them. The present study explored the correlation between self-esteem and stress response in Chinese and further examined the mediating role for either internal locus of control and/or need for social approval simultaneously. The current research suggest that the mechanism between self-esteem and psychosocial stress response may be different in different cultures.

Key words: self-esteem, psychosocial stress, social approval needs, Trier Social Stress Test

CLC Number: 

  • B844.3

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