Teenagers' Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy as Defenses Against Stress and Anxiety
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2026.v11.n03.025Keywords:
Self-esteem, self-efficacy, stress, anxiety, adolescents, mental healthAbstract
Adolescence is a crucial developmental period marked by quick biological, psychological, and social changes that frequently expose people to a variety of stresses, including peer pressure, parental expectations, academic pressure, and identity-related difficulties. These stressors frequently contribute to psychological difficulties, particularly stress and anxiety. Self-efficacy and self-esteem as protective psychological variables that assist teenagers in managing stress and anxiety is examined in this research. Self-efficacy is complete tasks and deal with difficult circumstances, whereas self-esteem is a person's assessment of their own value. According to earlier studies, teenagers who have better self-esteem typically exhibit more emotional stability. Strong self-efficacy beliefs also improve teenagers' self-esteem, drive, and coping skills, which lessens their susceptibility to psychological discomfort and worry. Research consistently shows robust inverse links between teenage stress and anxiety symptoms, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. The findings highlighted in this paper suggest that strengthening self-esteem and self-efficacy can play role in promoting mental well-being and reducing psychological problems during adolescence. Thus, educators, parents, and therapists ought to prioritize programs and strategies that cultivate strong self-image, assurance, and adaptive abilities in youth. Enhancing these psychological resources may contribute significantly to healthier emotional development and improved mental health outcomes in this vulnerable developmental stage.
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