Stress, Self-Esteem, and Health Outcomes
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Charlene Higgs
College:
The College of Health Professions and Human Services
Major:
Public Health
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Joshua Burnett
Abstract:
The purpose of this investigation was to establish whether individuals who have high self-esteem were less likely to fall ill in a given year than individuals who express low self-esteem. Additionally, this research sought to evaluate the relationship between stress and self-esteem, as well as stress with health outcomes for potential correlational relationships. The study was achieved by having respondents fill out an online questionnaire about their biometric data, current self-esteem levels, current/former stress levels, and current/former health status. The results of the survey found a potential connection between intensity and frequency of stressful experiences with the rate of chronic illness within the sample population, but did not conclusively determine whether self-esteem affects health status. Interestingly, this research may also point to the potential of significant changes in the relativity of self-reported stress levels and/or self-esteem compared to studies that investigated these factors before the initiation of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Given the results of this examination in conjunction with previous research, it could be concluded that chronic stress does have an impact on immune status. Further research in greater detail with more controls is warranted in order to thoroughly investigate the relationship between stress, chronic illness, and health outcomes.