Correlates of self-esteem among the Lebanese population: A cross-sectional study

To the best of our knowledge, no studies have been conducted in order to assess the correlation of these factors with the self-esteem in Lebanon. Therefore, this study aims to assess risk factors associated with self- esteem among a representative sample of the Lebanese population.

A cross-sectional, conducted between November 2017 and March 2018, enrolled 789 participants. Self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg scale. An exploratory factor analysis was executed to detect patterns of risk factors associated with self-esteem from our sample. A cluster analysis was then performed with the identified factor scores to identify the different profiles of the participants.

Relationship management (Beta=0.117), emotional awareness (Beta=0.074) and personal accomplishment (Beta=0.064) were associated with a higher self-esteem, whereas high depression (Beta=-0.102), alexithymia (Beta=-0.077), burnout depersonalization (Beta=-0.078), suicidal ideation (Beta=-0.391) were associated with a lower self-esteem. Factor 1 (High emotional intelligence & low depersonalization) (Beta=1.819) was associated with increased self-esteem, whereas Factor 2 (High suicidal ideation, high alcohol dependence, high depression and anxiety) and Factor 3 (High burnout, high stress and high alexithymia) were associated with decreased self-esteem (Beta=-1.380 and Beta=-0.751) respectively. Being widowed (Beta=-2.332), belonging to cluster 1 (People with emotional dysregulation) (Beta=-2.850) and cluster 2 (People in distress) (Beta=-3.660) were significantly associated with decreased self-esteem.

Depression, anxiety, burnout, stress, low emotional intelligence, alexithymia, suicide ideation, alcohol dependence and many other factors can be prevented, or reduced, by interventions that improve self-esteem.