The Differences between the Self-Esteem of Boys and Girls...

Puberty is a time of many changes. Your body changes, your voice can change, and your emotions are on overdrive. The changes going through an adolescent’s body can be very confusing. Not everyone going through puberty knows what is happening to them. Plus, even if an understanding is there, it can be very uncomfortable. Almost every part of an adolescent’s body is affected when going through puberty. Psychologically, an adolescent is affected too. One psychological effect of puberty is a decreased self-esteem. Boys and girls both have affected self-esteem during puberty, but girls’ self-esteem seems to have a negative impact during puberty, whiles boys seem to have a more positive impact. This paper will focus on the impact of self-esteem†¦show more content†¦Research has shown that gender differences for depression do not exist for adults, but they do exist for adolescent, boys and girls. Depression starts to rise in girls around the ages of 13 to 14. Girls start to show a consistent higher rate of depression than boys (Nolen-Hoeksema Girgus, 1994). Body dissatisfaction is an indicator in adolescence for depression and low self-esteem. In a study by Paxton, Neumark-Sztainer, Hannan, and Marla E. Eisenberg it was shown that this is a spiral relation. This means self-esteem could predict body dissatisfaction and depression, or depression could predict self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction, as well as body dissatisfaction brings an indicator for low self-esteem an depression (2006). Social Support and Self-Esteem Puberty is a very challenging time for any adolescent, but it can become more challenging if the adolescent does not have any social support. Social support includes family, teachers, role models, and friends. In an article by Bearman, Martinez, and Stice low self-esteem has been linked with a lack of social support. This includes the quality and quantity of social support (Bearman, Martinez, Stice, Presnell, 2006). This means if an adolescent had many acquaintances, but no any real friends, and not anyone that can be there for emotional support, the adolescent can still have low self-esteem. This can also be reversed, as in if an adolescent has a few really good friends, butShow MoreRelatedAdolescent Self-Portrait Essay1647 Words   |  7 PagesAdolescent Self-Portrait December 1, 2014 BSHS/325 Maria Perrotta Adolescent Self-Portrait From the time an individual is born, they are facing continual growth and changes. Upon reaching adolescence, an individual will face many changes quickly that affect feelings and personality. Males and females face the same milestones, yet, are affected and changed by them differently. What It Feels Like To Be a Teenager Being a teenager is an exciting, scary, and overall stressfulRead MoreTeenager Is A Teenager, An Exciting, Scary, Horrible, And Overall Stressful Time1483 Words   |  6 Pagestheir teenage years, puberty begins. 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