Disentangling timing and conditions: Trajectories of micro- and macro-processes of self-esteem change across the adult lifespan

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Humans have an inherent desire for positive self-evaluation, often defined and assessed as self-esteem. Self-esteem has been recognized as fundamental indicator of human behavior and is related to major life outcomes such as income or depression. With respect to mean-level trajectories, previous research suggests that young adults obtain increasingly positive views about themselves. With respect to late life, empirical findings are less consistent: Some studies observed lower mean-levels in self-esteem after age 65, whereas other studies suggested relative mean-level stability in old age. Beside the mean-level trajectory, variability or instability around this average self-esteem level has been related to health outcomes in young adulthood, but empirical knowledge regarding the role of self-esteem instability in late life is limited. In our overarching framework, we differentiate between two types of instability, namely reactivity and variability suggesting both characteristics to carry relevant information for long-term self-esteem development. Being informed by social and developmental psychology, micro-processes of self-esteem change are particularly ascribed to social situational cues. Based on an overarching conceptual framework, the current research project aims to enhance our understanding of processes of self-esteem change across the adult life span and interindividual differences thereof having a specific focus on late life dynamics. In that, the project addresses four interrelated research questions: 1) What are patterns of self-esteem reactivity, variability, and development? 2) Is self-esteem development related to micro-processes of reactivity and variability? 3) What are predictors of interindividual differences in self-esteem change processes? 4) How do age-related challenges and experiences shape self-esteem change processes? To answer these questions, the research project integrates experimental studies with diverse longitudinal data assessment methods on a sample of (a) young adults, as reference group to previous research, (b) young-old, being in the time of retirement, and (c) oldest-old, being confronted with an increasing number of life challenges. By combining the diverse assessment methods and target samples, results will enable us to test the overarching interplay of the three self-esteem change processes. In addition, integrated conclusions based on experimental and real-life data help to understand the role of individual and contextual conditions in shaping processes of self-esteem change. On the one hand, results have important implications for the knowledge on the intra- and interpersonal adaptation of self-evaluative processes across the adult lifespan. On the other hand, such knowledge is essential in understanding and supporting ageing individuals and societies in their development and every-day life.