Adolescent self-esteem and social adaptation: Chain mediation of peer trust and perceived social support

• Yong Xin

  Southwest University of Science and Technology

• Qiongyao Li

  Southwest University of Science and Technology

• Chuanjun Liu

  Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, and Department of Psychology, Southwest University of Science and Technology

Our aim was to identify the relationships between self-esteem and social adaptation, and the chain mediating effect of peer trust and perceived social support in this relationship. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Peer Trust Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Scale on Social Adaptability for Secondary School Students were integrated into a paper-and-pencil survey. Participants were 400 adolescents in southwestern China. Results demonstrated that the relationship between self-esteem and social adaptation was partially mediated by peer trust and perceived social support. The results were explained using the ecological systems theory. Self-esteem is inside the core individual; peer trust is in the microsystem and/or mesosystem; perceived social support is in the mesosystem, exosystem, and/or macrosystem. Adolescent social adaptation could be promoted by directly enhancing self-esteem, thus indirectly improving peer trust and perceived social support.

1. Yong Xin, Southwest University of Science and Technology
   Department of Psychology
2. Qiongyao Li, Southwest University of Science and Technology
   Department of Psychology

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