"I value myself, I value you". Self-esteem in adolescents: A study on factors and consequences that influence their well-being in personal and relational development.

Abstract

Self-esteem constitutes a fundamental element in the integral development of adolescents, impacting their personal and relational well-being. This essay on self-esteem explored the importance of self-worth and valuing others, focusing particularly on the adolescent stage, due to its significant influence on their integral development, since it is where young people begin to experience physical, emotional and social changes. The factors involved in the construction of self-esteem, its implications in the mental health and personal development of individuals in this adolescent stage and the way it affects their social development were analyzed in a critical and reflective manner. The phrase “I value myself, I value you” alluded to an interconnection between the perception that adolescents have of themselves and the value they offer to others in their interpersonal relationships. In this sense, the concept of self-esteem raised by various authors, explored and analyzed over the years, was examined, also submerged from an intersubjective perspective and the implications of maintaining both high and low self-esteem were discussed. From a review of recent literature, in sources extracted from Google Scholar and SciELO, it was argued how personal valuation and valuation of others are intertwined, favoring well-being and personal growth, also, the method of reflection employed, highlighted the need to incorporate these approaches in the school

curriculum in educational institutions, given that the mental health of students must prevail. Finally, the approach to self-esteem in adolescents was found to be relevant not only for their emotional well-being, but also for raising positive mental health in society.