Self-Esteem and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract

This meta-analysis examined the association between self-esteem and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) from childhood to late adulthood and tested several study and sample characteristics as potential moderators of this association. We included effect sizes from 120 articles. The meta-analytic results showed that individuals reporting lower self-esteem were at a higher risk for also reporting STBs, as indicated by negative associations between self-esteem and STBs. This global conclusion was robust across various sample and study characteristics and can be drawn for those studies that assessed STBs and self-esteem on metric scales and for those studies that examined mean differences in self-esteem between groups with vs. without STBs (r = -.421 and d = -0.798 for ideation, r = -.258 and d = -0.875 for behavior, r = -.411 and d = -1.610 for the combination of thoughts and behaviors). The meta-analysis identified evidence gaps, including the need for more studies on the association between suicidal behavior and self-esteem, studies on the association between STBs and self-esteem in the second half of life, and more longitudinal studies. Overall, this meta-analysis provides a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between self-esteem and STBs and contributes to the existing literature on suicide prevention.

Self-Burdensomeness, Self-Esteem and Suicidal Ideation

“…The present study also contributes to the literature on the relationship between self-esteem and suicidal ideation (Buecker et al, 2023;Soto-Sanz et al, 2019). In this regard, self-burdensomeness was shown to be highly correlated with self-esteem, yet, more strongly associated with suicidal ideation than low self-esteem.…”

“…Low self-esteem, in turn, is characterized by a dysfunctional and destructive self-evaluation. Low self-esteem is highly prevalent in clinical samples (Silverstone & Salsali, 2003) and has been shown to be a risk factor for both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (Buecker et al, 2023;Soto-Sanz et al, 2019). Furthermore, studies have shown that self-disgust and self-hate -as an extreme Additionally, perceived burdensomeness has been found to predict suicidal ideation and behavior in longitudinal studies (e.g., Forkmann et al, 2020;Rath et al, 2021).…”

“…

x expression of low self-esteem -are associated with suicide risk (e.g., Brake et al, 2017;Turnell et al, 2019). Still, most people suffering from low self-esteem will neither contemplate suicide nor attempt suicide (Buecker et al, 2023;Teismann et al, 2019). Therefore, it seems necessary to explore mechanisms that might underlie the association between low self-esteem and suicidal ideation.In the context of the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS; Joiner, 2005;Van Orden et al, 2010), perceived burdensomeness, i.e., the view that one's existence is a burden on family members and friends ("I am a burden to others"), has been proposed to be a proximal and a causal risk factor for suicidal ideation.

…”

“…x expression of low self-esteem -are associated with suicide risk (e.g., Brake et al, 2017;Turnell et al, 2019). Still, most people suffering from low self-esteem will neither contemplate suicide nor attempt suicide (Buecker et al, 2023;Teismann et al, 2019). Therefore, it seems necessary to explore mechanisms that might underlie the association between low self-esteem and suicidal ideation.…”