If we feel inadequate, it may create a source of interpersonal conflict, opposed to how feeling confident and self-assured may ease interpersonal strains. Anton de Man, et al, set out to prove or disprove this hypothesis by studying the relationships between self-esteem and interpersonal conflict, emotional exhaustion, and psychological strain in teenagers (ages 14-18). Their findings provided that teenagers who had high self-esteem reported experiencing less interpersonal conflict, emotional exhaustion, and psychological strain (249). These finding were deciphered and explained in the simple terms that those with higher self-esteem felt better equipped and prepared to handle stressful or intense circumstances (250). This conclusion suggests that those with low self-esteem do not feel prepared and therefore perceive more threat, and are more likely to turn threatening situations into conflicts compared to high self-esteem
If we feel inadequate, it may create a source of interpersonal conflict, opposed to how feeling confident and self-assured may ease interpersonal strains. Anton de Man, et al, set out to prove or disprove this hypothesis by studying the relationships between self-esteem and interpersonal conflict, emotional exhaustion, and psychological strain in teenagers (ages 14-18). Their findings provided that teenagers who had high self-esteem reported experiencing less interpersonal conflict, emotional exhaustion, and psychological strain (249). These finding were deciphered and explained in the simple terms that those with higher self-esteem felt better equipped and prepared to handle stressful or intense circumstances (250). This conclusion suggests that those with low self-esteem do not feel prepared and therefore perceive more threat, and are more likely to turn threatening situations into conflicts compared to high self-esteem