Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The issues related to the discrepancies between self-esteem or self-efficacy in teacher candidates is addressed. The definitions for teacher candidates’ beliefs on how they see themselves as future educational professionals will be explored.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Hosting a profile at a social network site gives everyone the possibility to present numerous aspects of the self online. The increasing popularity of sites like MySpace or Facebook raises various research questions with regard to motives and other factors that influence the individual usage and the form of self-presentation. Previous research has mainly dealt with the related phenomenon of personal homepages and focussed on describing the self-presentation. Emerging research on social network sites within Web 2.0 first of all analyzes the motives for participating. Given the obvious importance of impression management, this study examined the so far scarcely regarded relationship between self-esteem, personality and the self-presentation on a profile within the online-community MySpace. Self-report data on self-esteem, personality and motives for participating of 107 members of the community were assessed by questionnaire and related to the specific form of self-presentation (private details displayed, number of words, number of friends, design). By comparing German and US-American users we further investigated if the self-presentation differs depending on the country of the user. The results show that it is not the motivation but the self-esteem and aspects of personality which influence how the users present themselves online. Also, the study reveals significant differences in self-presentation between the two countries.

Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: This study examined Asian American adolescents' adherence to Asian and European cultural values and their relationship to self-esteem, cognitive flexibility, self-efficacy as they relate to teaching. learning, and counseling.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Using identity theory, this research focuses on the effects of reflected appraisals and self-esteem on the self-view. Reflected appraisals represent the way an individual thinks others view the self when performing an identity. This study demonstrates that ones level of self-esteem is an influential component of the perceptual lens through which reflected appraisals are incorporated into the self. Data is collected from a population of incarcerated criminal offenders with respect to the criminal identity. Analyses reveal that subjects with high self-esteem claim a non-salient criminal identity when they report reflected appraisals of their peers with whom they are incarcerated, or guards at the jail as being high for the criminal identity. Alternatively, those with low self-esteem claim a salient criminal identity when reporting that reflected appraisals of peers and guards are high for the criminal identity. This means that subjects with high self-esteem were less likely to incorporate the reflected appraisals of these others into their identity than subjects with low self-esteem. The findings suggest that the self-view is a result of both external (reflected appraisals) and internal (self-esteem) forces.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study investigates whether functional health influences self-esteem and changes in self-esteem, as well as whether self-esteem, worker, parent, and friend identities influence functional health and changes in health. Data were collected in 1992 and 1994 from 737 older workers living in a North Carolina metropolitan area. Functional health is derived from questions asking respondents about their difficulties performing seven activities. Rosenberg’s (1965) 10-item scale is used to tap self-esteem, and identities are measured with 10 adjective pairs that cover being competent, confident, and sociable as a worker, parent, and friend. Three findings are of particular interest. First, functional health has a positive effect on self-esteem and encourages increases in self-esteem over two years. Second, self-esteem has a positive effect on functional health and changes in functional health. The influence of self-esteem on functional health is stronger for women and retirees. Third, worker and parent identities impact functional health. Thus, the findings confirm the expectation that health influences self, but also the less well studied expectation that self processes influence health. Individuals may be motivated by their desire to affirm a sense of self-worth and positive identities to maintain and improve their physical health.