title: Self-esteem and emotional health in adolescents--gender and age as potential moderators.
abstract: The present paper investigates possible gender and age differences on emotional states (depression and anxiety) and self-esteem as well as the association between self-esteem and emotional states. The cross-sectional sectional sample consists of 1,209 adolescents 13-18 years from public elementary and secondary schools in mid-Norway. The results showed that girls reported higher scores on state anxiety and state depression, whereas boys consistently scored higher on self-esteem in all age groups. Self-esteem was strongly and inversely associated with both state depression and state anxiety. An interaction effect of gender by self-esteem was found on state depression, where the association was stronger for girls than for boys. The associations found give support for the positive role of self-esteem in relation to adolescents' emotional health and well-being.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Health Promotion and Resources HiST/NTNU, Trondheim, Norway. unni.moksnes@svt.ntnu.no
authors.forename: Unni K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Moksnes
authors.forename: Geir A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Espnes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009664:Norway; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires