How is spontaneous self-affirmation linked to self-esteem? A cross-lagged examination

The present research utilized a cross-lagged model over a four-month period to explore relationships between self-affirmation and self-esteem in a sample of adolescents from low-income households. We hypothesized a directional relationship wherein greater self-affirmation at Wave 1 would be associated with increased self-esteem four months later at Wave 2. Wave 1 data were collected from 144 adolescents in fall 2019, with Wave 2 data collected in spring 2020. Cross-lagged models supported the hypothesis. Greater self-affirmation at Wave 1 was associated with greater self-esteem four months later (ß = 0.26, p < .001), whereas self-esteem at Wave 1 did not predict changes in self-affirmation four months later. Results support the conceptualization that self-affirmation bolsters self-esteem over time among certain adolescents.