Citation

Moksnes UK, Espnes GA. Scand. J. Psychol. 2012; 53(6): 483-489.

Affiliation

Research Centre for Health Promotion and Resources HiST/NTNU, Trondheim, Norway. unni.moksnes@svt.ntnu.no

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Scandinavian Psychological Associations, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/sjop.12021

PMID

23170865

Abstract

The present paper investigates possible gender and age differences on emotional states (depression and anxiety) and self-esteem as well as the association between self-esteem and emotional states. The cross-sectional sectional sample consists of 1,209 adolescents 13-18 years from public elementary and secondary schools in mid-Norway. The results showed that girls reported higher scores on state anxiety and state depression, whereas boys consistently scored higher on self-esteem in all age groups. Self-esteem was strongly and inversely associated with both state depression and state anxiety. An interaction effect of gender by self-esteem was found on state depression, where the association was stronger for girls than for boys. The associations found give support for the positive role of self-esteem in relation to adolescents' emotional health and well-being.

Language: en