Work

Take a step back to see your own value: on the role of metacognition in self-esteem regulation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: When self-esteem is threatened (e.g., by social rejection), people regulate it through self-enhancement, self-protection, or self-affirmation. High self-esteem individuals use functional strategies like self-affirmation and self-enhancement, while those with low self-esteem rely more on self-protection strategies. This study explored whether decentering, a metacognitive process, aids in accessing resources and promoting functional self-esteem regulation. Methods: 1,100 participants (age 18-65, 72% female) completed questionnaires online. Structural equation modeling was used to test whether decentering mediates the association between self-esteem and self-enhancement, self-affirmation and self-protection. Results: factor reduced it. Decentering significantly mediated all three strategies. Discussion: These findings suggest that enhancing decentering could improve self-esteem regulation and inform therapeutic interventions. Strengthening an accepting self-perception may help individuals with low self-esteem adopt protective strategies. Fostering a distanced perspective could further promote self-affirmation, leading to better mental health outcomes.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1530008

Authors: Lena Rader, Saskia Doreen Forster, Siegfried Gauggel, Barbara Drueke, Verena Mainz

Institutions: Universitätsklinikum Aachen, RWTH Aachen University

Language: English

Topic: Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801