Self-esteem, Mental Well-being, Life Satisfaction

Indicator #23: Positive Self-esteem

Indicator #24: Positive Self-rated Mental Health

Indicator #25: Positive Life Satisfaction

Indicator 23: Percentage of BC students in grades 7–12 who report positive self-esteem, based on self-reporting that they usually felt good about themselves.

Indicator 24: Percentage of BC students in grades 7–12 who report “excellent” and/or “very good” self-rated mental health.

Indicator 25: Percentage of BC youth age 12–19 who report being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their lives.

Jump to Figure Notes and Sources

Key Messages

A range of social, behavioural, and developmental characteristics that are associated with self-esteem among youth have been identified in the literature.¹ Several studies point to the importance of positive self-esteem in decreasing depression, suicidality, and behavioural adjustment during adolescence.^2,3
A US study showed associations between positive youth self-rated mental health status and higher quality of life, as measured by satisfaction with self, family, friends, school environment, and overall life satisfaction. In a BC study, self-reports of poor mental health and poor physical health were associated with lower self-reported quality of life, including in the areas of family, friends, living environment, school, and self.⁴
Positive life satisfaction is another good predictor of positive physical and mental health outcomes, and is associated with optimal functioning. Life satisfaction is a subjective measure of general well-being based on people’s own perceptions of how content or happy they are with their life as a whole.^5,6
Research shows that a healthy lifestyle, good physical health, exercise, and participation in sports foster positive life satisfaction. Additionally, positive environmental elements help to produce positive youth life satisfaction, such as living in safe neighbourhoods; housing quality, stability, and security; and adequate social supports like good familial and parental relationships, and peer and other social supports.⁷
For all three indicators there was a difference between the sexes. In comparison to females, a larger percentage of males in grades 7 to 12 reported that they usually feel good about themselves (Figure 23.1), that they have “good” or “excellent” mental health (Figure 24.1), and that they are satisfied with their lives (Figure 25.1).
As shown in Figure 23.1, in 2008, the majority (86.5 per cent) of BC students in grades 7–12 reported that they felt good about themselves; by 2013, this percentage had dropped to 80.2 per cent. This decline was largely a product of the decline among females over this time from 81.7 to 71.4 per cent. However, Figure 25.1 shows that the trend over time for life satisfaction remained relatively stable from 2007–08 to 2013–14.

Figure Notes and Sources

Figure 23.1

Notes: "Usually feeling good about themselves" means youth who "agreed" or "mostly agreed" that they usually felt good about themselves. Data are not available for 2003. The difference between years was statistically significant for all groups.

Data source: McCreary Centre Society, BC Adolescent Health Survey, 2008, 2013. Prepared by the Surveillance and Epidemiology Team, BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer, 2016.

Figure 23.2

Notes: "Usually feeling good about themselves" means youth who "agreed" or "mostly agreed" that they usually felt good about themselves. Health authority is based on the location of the school.