. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Jan 1.

Published in final edited form as: Am Psychol. 2022 Jan;77(1):5–17. doi: 10.1037/amp0000922

Table 1.

Meta-Analytic Findings on Prospective Effects of Self-Esteem on Outcomes

Category and outcome	Effect size estimate	95% CI	Number of studies	Number of participants
Social relationships^a
Quality of social relationships	.08^*	[.06, .10]	35	21,995
Education^b
Academic achievement	.08^*	[.07, .09]	60	49,266
Work^c
Job satisfaction	.09^*	[.07, .11]	15	14,374
Job success	.08^*	[.01, .16]	6	3,360
Income	.05	[−.00, .10]	7	7,534
Job resources	.10^*	[.05, .15]	6	2,782
Job stressors	−.09	[−.19, .01]	4	1,770
Mental health^d
Depression	−.16^*	[−.18, −.14]	77	35,501
Anxiety	−.10^*	[−.14, −.06]	18	3,597

Note. Effect size estimates are standardized regression coefficients. The table includes meta-analyses that examined prospective effects of self-esteem on the outcome controlling for prior level of the outcome. For physical health and antisocial behavior, no meta-analyses of prospective effects are available. CI = confidence interval.

Data from Harris and Orth (2020).

Data from Valentine et al. (2004).

Data from Krauss and Orth (in press).

Data from Sowislo and Orth (2013).

p < .05.