Publications [#253320] of Terrie E. Moffitt

Journal Articles

1. Trzesniewski, KH; Donnellan, MB; Moffitt, TE; Robins, RW; Poulton, R; Caspi, A (2006). Low self-esteem during adolescence predicts poor health, criminal behavior, and limited economic prospects during adulthood.. Developmental psychology, 42(2), 381-390. [16569175], [doi]
   (last updated on 2024/04/18)

   Abstract:
   Using prospective data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study birth cohort, the authors found that adolescents with low self-esteem had poorer mental and physical health, worse economic prospects, and higher levels of criminal behavior during adulthood, compared with adolescents with high self-esteem. The long-term consequences of self-esteem could not be explained by adolescent depression, gender, or socioeconomic status. Moreover, the findings held when the outcome variables were assessed using objective measures and informant reports; therefore, the findings cannot be explained by shared method variance in self-report data. The findings suggest that low self-esteem during adolescence predicts negative real-world consequences during adulthood.