Stronger correlations between self-esteem and mate value were found for men

Digging deeper into the relationship between self-esteem and mate value. Gary L.Brase, Meghan H. Dillon. Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 185, February 2022, 111219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111219

Highlights

• Overall self-esteem (SE) is correlated with both gender and mate value (MV).

• Both SE and MV, however, are often considered multidimensional.

• The current study replicated the prior findings, extending into subscales.

• Overall scores remained strongest, consistent with sociometer theory.

• Stronger correlations between self-esteem and mate value were found for men.

Abstract: Self-esteem is correlated with both gender (women reporting lower scores on average) and mate value. Both self-esteem and mate value, however, are often measured with multidimensional scales, and the documented relationship between these overall constructs has not been studied in terms of subcomponents. Using multidimensional measures of both self-esteem and mate value, the current study (n = 192) found expected sex difference in self-esteem and a correlation with mate value. These correlations extended pervasively into subscales, with a few notable exceptions, and the strongest relationships were with the overall scale scores. These results are consistent with sociometer theory and the idea that self-perceived mate value is a component of overall self-concept and esteem. Generally stronger correlations between self-esteem and mate value were found for men, relative to women, and further research is needed to assess the generalizability of these findings across more diverse samples.

Keywords: Self-esteemMate valueSociometerMultidimensionality