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. 2016 Jul 13;56(2):143-168.
doi: 10.5334/pb.277.

The Pursuit of Self-Esteem and Its Motivational Implications

Jolene van der Kaap-Deeder  1 , Sofie Wouters  2 , Karine Verschueren  2 , Veerle Briers  2 , Bram Deeren  3 , Maarten Vansteenkiste  1
Affiliations

The Pursuit of Self-Esteem and Its Motivational Implications

Jolene van der Kaap-Deeder et al. Psychol Belg. .

Abstract

Although recent studies have found contingent self-esteem (CSE) to be negatively related to individuals' well-being, research concerning its implications for motivation and engagement is scarce. In two studies, we investigated the relation between CSE, motivation, and engagement in achievement-related situations. A first cross-sectional study among second year high school students (N = 641; 54.1% female) confirmed the hypothesized motivational ambiguity associated with academic CSE. Beyond the contribution of academic self-esteem, academic CSE was positively related to behavioral and emotional engagement, but also to emotional disaffection and test anxiety. These associations could partially be explained by motivational quality, as CSE was also positively related to both autonomous and controlled types of motivation. In a second experimental study among university students (N = 72; 70.8% female), who participated in a tangram puzzle task under varying feedback circumstances, global CSE related to more tension, while predicting less behavioral task perseverance. These effects were not moderated by the type of feedback provided (i.e., positive vs. negative). Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.

Keywords: Self-Determination Theory; contingent self-esteem; engagement; introjection; motivation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structural Model Depicting the Relation between Contingent Self-esteem, Motivation, and Engagement (Study 1). Note. Standardized path coefficients are shown. Only significant paths are shown. Direct relations of self-esteem level with mediators and outcomes, covariances between self-esteem level and contingency, covariances between our 4 mediators, covariances between our outcomes and significant gender effects were estimated, but not shown for clarity purposes. *p < .05.**p < .01.***p < .001.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structural Model Depicting the Relation between Contingent Self-esteem, Motivation, and Disaffection (Study 1). Note. Standardized path coefficients are shown. Only significant paths are shown. Direct relations of self-esteem level with mediators and outcomes, covariances between self-esteem level and contingency, covariances between our 4 mediators, covariances between our outcomes and significant gender effects were estimated, but not shown for clarity purposes. *p < .05.**p < .01.***p < .001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Structural Model Depicting the Relation between Contingent Self-esteem, Condition, Engagement and Disaffection (Study 2). Note. Standardized path coefficients are shown. Direct effects of self-esteem level on outcomes were estimated, but not shown for clarity purposes. Condition was coded as ‘0’ for the failure condition and as ‘1’ for the success condition. PT = Puzzle task; FCP = Free-choice period. *p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
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