title: Impact of emotional maltreatment on self esteem among adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of emotional maltreatment on self-esteem among adolescents, and to see if gender makes a difference in this context.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2014, and comprised adolescents in the age range of 14 to 18 years who were selected using purposive sampling from various government and private schools and colleges of Sargodha, Punjab. The questionnaire on seven dimensions of emotional maltreatment at home and Rosenberg self-esteem scale were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 400 subjects; 200(50%) boys and as many girls. The overall mean age was 16.14±1.36 years (range: 14-18 years). Correlation coefficient indicated significant negative relationship between emotional maltreatment and self-esteem (degrading r= -0.33, p<0.01; exploitation r= -0.30, p< 0.01; isolating r=-0.36, p<0.01; ignoring r= -0.32, p<0.01; rejecting r=-0.43, p< 0.01; and terrorizing r= -0.35, p<0.01) among students. Emotional maltreatment strongly predicted negative self-esteem (isolating?= -0.12, p<0.05; and rejecting ?= -0.30, p< 0.001) among adolescents. Findings indicated significant gender differences in degrading component of emotional maltreatment and self-esteem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emotional maltreatment strongly predicted negative self-esteem among adolescents. Gender was a significant factor in the domain of degrading.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aneeqa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Emotional maltreatment, Rejecting, Isolating, Self-esteem.