Age differences in instability, contingency, and level of self-esteem across the life span

Abstract

We investigated age differences in instability, contingency, and level of self-esteem from age 13 to 72. years, using data from 1386 individuals who participated in a diary study over 25. days. Instability and contingency of self-esteem decreased from adolescence to old age, whereas level of self-esteem increased. Big Five personality traits predicted the level, but not the slope, of the trajectories of self-esteem characteristics. Age differences in self-esteem characteristics did not merely reflect age differences in instability and level of positive and negative affect. Finally, self-esteem characteristics showed a stable pattern of interrelations across the life span. Overall, the findings suggest that people's self-esteem tends to become better adjusted-i.e., more stable, less contingent, and higher-across the life course. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.