Date of Award

Spring 2003

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

First Advisor

Jeffrey Walczyk

Abstract

This study examined the relationship among life-skills, self-esteem, and well-being in 278 adults. Adults were classified into three age groups. Of the 278 participants, 96 were young adults, 92 were middle-aged, and 90 were older adults. Life-skills, global organizations of general coping skills that are learned behaviors which enable effective functioning, were assessed with the Life-Skills Inventory - Adult Form (Gazda, Illovsky, & Taylor, 1991). Analyses were performed to understand the influence of four generic life-skills areas, interpersonal communication/human relations, problem-solving/decision making, identity development/purpose in life, and physical fitness/health maintenance, on self-esteem. Self-esteem was measured with the Self-Esteem Inventory-Adult Form (Coopersmith, 1981). Additional analyses explored the relationship between those four life-skills areas and well-being. Well-being was assessed by the General Well-Being Schedule (Dupuy, 1978). Lastly, analyses examined whether self-esteem serves as a moderator between life-skills and well-being.

Results indicated that there are significant differences among the three age groups in regards to the life-skills dimensions of physical fitness/health maintenance and identity development/purpose in life. Additionally, the dimension of interpersonal communication/human relations was found to be a significant predictor of self-esteem across the stages of adulthood in a pattern largely supportive of Erikson's stages of psychosocial development (Erikson, 1950, 1963). A significant association was found between self-esteem and well-being, consistent with research identifying self-esteem as a component of well-being (Andrews & Robinson, 1991, Blascovich & Tomaka, 1991; Emmons & Diener, 1985b). Lastly, the study posited that self-esteem would serve as a moderator between life-skills and well-being. The results indicated that self-esteem can moderate the relationship. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed, as well as, considerations for future research.

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