This experience can improve self-esteem

Just as the relationship we have with ourselves determines our relationships with others and our experiences, the opposite is also true. “Self-esteem is your subjective perception of your overall personal worth. Similar to self-respect, it describes your level of confidence in your abilities and qualities,” defines Kendra Cherry, psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, for Very Well Mind. Having good self-esteem can influence your motivation, mental well-being and overall quality of life.

But, even if we are aware of the benefits of preserving self-esteem, it is sometimes difficult to know how to improve it. Becoming aware of negative thoughts, challenging thought patterns, engaging in positive self-talk, and practicing self-compassion can help repair self-perception in particular. In a new study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletinresearchers have been interested in the links between self-esteem and sexuality.

Self-esteem and sexuality: reciprocal effects?

“There is evidence that people with higher self-esteem tend to have more satisfying sexual relationships, but little is known about how changes in self-esteem and sexual experiences are related to over time,” the researchers explain. In this new study, the team of researchers attempted to test theories about reciprocal effects between self-esteem and sexual experiences.

To do this, the researchers relied on 12 years of longitudinal data bringing together data from 11,000 German participants aged 15 to 38 at the start of the study. Participants provided information about their self-esteem, frequency of sex, and sexual satisfaction, as well as details about their relationships and attachment style.

Sexual satisfaction, a factor of self-esteem

The results revealed a strong and stable association between self-esteem and sexual satisfaction. Thus, people with higher self-esteem consistently reported greater sexual satisfaction throughout the 12-year study period. A weaker link was also found between self-esteem and frequency of intercourse.

Consistent with their theory of reciprocal effects, the researchers confirmed that when a participant experienced a period of sexual satisfaction, it predicted a subsequent increase in self-esteem. Conversely, when a participant felt an improvement in their self-esteem, they were more likely to report an improvement in their sexual satisfaction at the next assessment. However, no evidence was found of a similar relationship between self-esteem and frequency of sexual intercourse. Working to one’s satisfaction could thus be a roundabout way of working to improve one’s self-esteem.