The stress buffering effects of self-esteem

Self-esteem has been shown to moderate the stress-illness relationship, although the mechanisms by which this occurs has not been directly tested. This research examined the potential moderating influence of self-esteem on stress appraisal and reactivity in a stress-inducing laboratory exercise. Two experiments examined whether participants who are exposed to a high self-esteem manipulation show less stress responsivity. The results from Study 1 (N = 53) revealed the expected effect: participants in the high self-esteem group reported experiencing less stress and achieved better performance on the Stroop task. The results from Study 2 (N = 29) pointed to differences in underlying autonomic reactivity, with the high self-esteem group demonstrating less heart-rate arousal during a social performance task. These studies suggest that self-esteem may moderate against the pernicious effects of stress via the primary appraisal process.