Genetic influences on level and stability of self-esteem

Abstract

We attempted to clarify the relation between self-esteem level (high vs. low) and perceived self-esteem stability (within-person variability) by using a behavioral genetics approach. We tested whether the same or independent genetic and environmental influences impact on level and stability. Adolescent twin siblings (n = 183 pairs) completed level and stability scales at two time points. Heritability for both was substantial. The remaining variance in each was attributable to non-shared environmental influences. Shared environmental influences were not significant. Level and stability of self-esteem shared common antecedents via genetic and non-shared environmental influences. Nonetheless, stability was influenced by substantial unique genetic and non-shared environmental influences. The results validate the notion that level and stability are partially autonomous components of self-esteem.

Notes

1. This correlation between the LSES scale and self-concept clarity may be artificially inflated because the self-concept clarity scale contained items pertaining to short-term fluctuations in one's self-concept.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michelle B. Neiss

We thank Elizabeth Gramzow for her valuable help with data collection.