Daily Health Care

Self-esteem increased steadily during the life (on average) but begins to decline around the age of retirement, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Ulrich Orth, Kali H. Trzesniewski and Richard Robins led the study with 3.617 Americans aged 25-104 years.

Self-esteem was lowest among young adults and increased steadily to a peak at the age of 60 years and begin to decline. On average, women had lower self esteem than men.

Education, income, health and employment status had an effect on self-esteem, especially with increasing age. Those who had higher incomes and better health (taking of age) tended to maintain their self-esteem with age. The researchers hypothesize that this link is explained by the fact that the wealth and health contribute to feelings of being independent and able to contribute to the family and society.

People of all ages who were in satisfactory relationships tended to have higher self-esteem. But although they maintained a higher self-esteem throughout their lives, they also knew a decline after 60 years.

The midlife is a time when work, family and romantic relationships are relatively stable, say the authors. As life advances, people occupy more positions of power and status, which promotes self-esteem. In contrast, older people are experiencing changes in roles such as the empty nest, retirement and job skills obsolete more than a decline in health.