title: Age and gender differences in self-esteem-A cross-cultural window.
abstract: Research and theorizing on gender and age differences in self-esteem have played a prominent role in psychology over the past 20 years. However, virtually all empirical research has been undertaken in the United States or other Western industrialized countries, providing a narrow empirical base from which to draw conclusions and develop theory. To broaden the empirical base, the present research uses a large Internet sample (N = 985,937) to provide the first large-scale systematic cross-cultural examination of gender and age differences in self-esteem. Across 48 nations, and consistent with previous research, we found age-related increases in self-esteem from late adolescence to middle adulthood and significant gender gaps, with males consistently reporting higher self-esteem than females. Despite these broad cross-cultural similarities, the cultures differed significantly in the magnitude of gender, age, and Gender × Age effects on self-esteem. These differences were associated with cultural differences in socioeconomic, sociodemographic, gender-equality, and cultural value indicators. Discussion focuses on the theoretical implications of cross-cultural research on self-esteem. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bleidorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Personality Psychology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
authors.forename: Ruben C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University.
authors.forename: Jaap J A
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Denissen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rentfrow
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Mannheim.
authors.forename: Jochen E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gebauer
authors.affiliation: Atof Inc.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Samuel D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gosling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult