News

Neil Thompson studies a research report into the importance of self-esteem that challenges assumptions long held in social work.

The concept of self-esteem has long been recognised as an important one in social work. However, in these days of evidence-based practice and the philosophy of "what works?", should we perhaps be looking more carefully and critically at the concept to see whether our assumptions about its importance actually stand up to scrutiny?

This is what this report does. It looks in detail at what causes low self-esteem and what impact it can have. Some of the findings support what has become established practice wisdom over the years, but some do not.

The report is a review of various pieces of research carried out in relation to self-esteem, so that patterns and themes can be established. The research explored was largely to be found in papers published in academic journals and in PhD theses.

Those findings that perhaps come as no surprise included:

- Low self-esteem is a risk factor for depression, teenage pregnancy, victimisation, and suicide or attempted suicide.

- There are indications that low self-esteem in childhood is associated with adolescent eating disorders and with earnings and continuity of employment in early adulthood.

By contrast, the conclusions that were less supportive of common assumptions included the finding that low self-esteem is not associated with:

- Delinquency.

- Violence (including child abuse or abuse of one's partner).

- Drug or alcohol abuse.

- Lack of educational achievement.

- Racism.

In terms of what affected self-esteem, attention was given to the role of parents and parenting style, child abuse - physical and sexual - and genetic factors. Of course, parent-related issues and the significance of abuse will come as no surprise to experienced professionals in social work.

This report has two major benefits. First, it clarifies a number of important issues about self-esteem, reinforcing how significant it is in social work practice while also warning of false assumptions that can easily be made. Second, it shows the value of this type of research review that enables us to look critically at important issues and concepts in order to make sure that we are not basing our practice on false assumptions or preconceptions.

This report, then, feeds directly into the debate about the role of evidence-based practice. On the one hand, the developing emphasis on evidence-based practice in general, and this review in particular, alert us to the dangers of relying on untested assumptions rather than drawing, wherever possible, on the research base available to us. On the other hand, as with any reliance on research evidence, we need to adopt a critical approach, rather than simply take the research findings at face value. Research-minded practice (as part of reflective practice) should not be equated with adopting an uncritical approach to the role and limitations of research. No research report is the last word on the subject and this review is no exception. I am sure there is a lot more to be said about self-esteem and its role in social work and related disciplines.

- The report, Self-Esteem: The Costs and Causes of Low Self-Worth by Nicholas Emler and published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2001, costs £15.95 plus £2 p&p. A summary is available on the foundation's website at www.jrf.org.uk  

Neil Thompson is a director of Avenue Consulting (www.avenueconsulting.co.uk ) and a visiting professor at the University of Liverpool. He is the author of Understanding Social Work: Preparing for Practice (2000) and Anti-Discriminatory Practice (third edition, 2001), both published by Palgrave.