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Teens and Self-Esteem and Self-Worth
Submitted by Wade Nembhard
Self image and opinions of peers, are major factors to teens and self-esteem. The teenage years, especially those spent in high school are the most fragile and often seemingly the longest period of their lives. Fashion trends and different music genres help to shape their unique personalities and identities. Since teens tend to focus primarily on outward appearances, they typically measure their self-worth by what others think or say about them. Situations ranging from high school government, first automobile, or making the athletic team, can be the deciding factors of whether they become models for high school popularity and peer admiration, or fall into more low key and hardly desired groups. Athleticism, good looks, and wealthy parents can propell on teen to the top of the popularity chart, while bad looks, extremely smart and nerdy tendencies can banish another into shyness, humiliation and daily embarassment.
So how does a teenager reach high self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth? There's no easy answer because there are so many factors and variables that can make or break their reputations. Parents often weigh in with good words of advice and encouragement as they should, but its never enough for a teen simply because they often feel parents are out of touch with what is considered cool. Teen self-esteem and self-worth are largely affected by images on television, internet, and magazines that tell them they have to dress a certain way, wear certain clothes, or belong to certain groups to be somebody. With so many overwhelming visuals from the media, it's sometimes difficult to reach a high level of self-esteem and self-worth if they don't have those things.
- Be accepting of their unique style and personality.
- Be less critical of their fashion sense or choice of music, unless those lyrics explicitly and directly promote violence and killing.
Note: rap music and hard rock does not automatically equal violence, disfuntional behavior, and killing.
- Spend more quality and one-on-one time with them, and play interactive games or activities together.
- Put an encouraging message by email, text message or personal message on their social networking profile, telling them things you like and admire about them.
Generally teens suffering fron low self-esteem, often show symptoms that can lead to depression. These include unusual sleep patterns, drained energy, lack of motivation, lack of focus, bad eating habits, and easy frustration or irritation. If you're a parent or friend who recognize these symptons, it's in your best interest and the teen in question to help them get the counseling they need.
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