Let's embrace youths self esteem

B Sadananda Sharma *

Why most youths in our present society do feels lack of self esteem or low self worth during adolescence?

Apart from educating our child with books and pencils, do our parents make any efforts to identify the inner potential sources of such influence on self worth? During a conversation between parents regarding raising a child now a days, they brings out the difficulties in expenses in giving education only, they do never bother to discuss about a child mental health and their relationship with them.

A clear ideology of our parents is that education first then job in their hands means they have successfully launched a kid, just like launching a product. Ten out of hundred parents rarely ask,”What is the problem son or daughter, you look different, let me know if there is anything I can do”...this is called a transparent parents; our society is in dire need of such gesture.

Often parent–child relationships are associated with adolescent self worth but researchers’ claims whether such associations may be attributable to familial confounding (e.g. genetic relatedness).

Many Researchers of the opinion that Self worth or self esteem has been defined as the level of regard that one has for the self as a person (Baumeister, Campbell, Krueger, & Vohs, 2003; Harter, 1993). High self worth indicates that a person has a positive view of her/himself, and that they believe that they are ‘good enough’.

High levels of self worth are positively related to happiness (Baumeister et al., 2003), life satisfaction and well being (Proctor, Linley, & Maltby, 2009). Low self worth is associated with poor mental health, criminal behaviour, poor physical health, health compromising behaviours and poor economic prospects (Donnellan, Trzesniewski, Robins, Moffitt, & Caspi, 2005; McGee & Williams, 2000; Millings, Buck, Montgomery, Spears, & Stallard, 2012; Sowislo & Orth, 2013; Trzesniewski et al., 2006).

Compelling evidence that low self worth prospectively predicts emotional problems comes from a recent meta analysis of 80 longitudinal data sets, collectively spanning childhood to old age, in which it was reported that low self worth predicted future depression and anxiety (Sowislo & Orth, 2013).

Most of us without a doubt do understand the mechanics or chemistry behind being in an adolescence stage. It may be state as a developmental stage of particular importance to self worth and mental health, in that self worth is low for some individuals during this period, and many common emotional and behavioral problems also increase which is quite a common issues during adolescence period.

During adolescence period we tends to get most of the exposure of the world both negative and positive qualities. We get influence by peer pressures, imitation of styles, languages spoken, eating habits and even the tendency to indulge in drugs and unwanted substances. However, speaking to such qualities our friends circle and our surrounding atmosphere also plays a major role in this context.

Adolescence gives the idea of being independent from our parents guidance, started making decision of our own and what realities lies ahead is out of their vision, which is why a good relation has to be always maintain between a parents and child during this vulnerable stages.

Most of the Researchers working on the large scale Dunedin birth cohort have shown that low adolescent self worth predicts a range of negative outcomes 10 years later in early adulthood, including depression, anxiety, nicotine dependence, criminal convictions and multiple physical health outcomes. This pattern of associations highlights the potential importance that adolescent self worth plays in development.

Identifying factors that may have a positive influence on adolescent self worth may prove to be a crucial step in identifying how mental health might best be protected during this period of susceptibility.

Several studies have shown that the parent–child relationship is related to adolescent self worth, with close, affectionate, positive relationships associated with higher levels of self-worth. All these findings suggest that positive relationships within the family may have the capacity to increase adolescent self worth, and thus improve mental health outcomes.

Not to forget our society is facing a huge drug menace and fight to counter drugs in our society is on, War on Drugs/ War against Drugs. A big burning topic in our society, debates on laws, acts, arrests, acquits….etc. But the real question is that who are consuming or using all this drugs, answer will be the pillar of our society, young generation youths of our society.

It is also needed to formulate a strict measure to prevent drugs in our society, and law should not spare such creatures which are spreading like cancer day by day. Only the NGOs, CSOs and Government cannot bring a total free drug zone in a society. Families and parents should also need to play an active role and duties. They can educate them properly about drugs and substance abuse.

Not only educating but to keep close observation and teaching them to introspect themselves, children should be taught to realize their own decisions and action. Dictating a child will only hampers their intelligence resulting in poor decision making in later stages of their life.

After all every child is unique and possess talent, we just need to find out and help them in bringing out those hidden potentials.