Reevaluating the relation between self-esteem and psychological Weil-Being: The concept of "blessed self-feeling"

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to reevaluate the relation between self-esteem and psychological well-being by contrasting it to the concept of "blessed self-feeling". This concept focuses on self-feelings that are influenced by thoughts of blessings. In Study 1, a questionnaire completed by 306 university students showed that both self-esteem and blessed self-feelings were significantly positively related to subjective well-being and internal control. Study 2 was conducted via the Internet; questionnaires were completed by 173 individuals who identified themselves as university students. The results of Study 2 were similar to those from Study 1. In addition, blessed self-feelings are considered to be appropriate for people who are at a cultural disadvantage with respect to self-esteem. Scores on blessed self-feeling were higher in the females than in the males, and were positively related to interdependency, whereas the males' self-esteem scores were higher than the females' scores, and were negatively related to interdependency. In addition, a strong sense of agency, including confrontations with others, was related only to self-esteem.