Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Levels and variability in self-esteem are important personality factors influencing both psychological and physical health. Research has shown that self-esteem can be associated with psychological benefits such as reduced negative emotions and stress. Negative emotions and stress represent risk factors for disturbances in individuals' biological systems and physical health. In fact, if people experience stress, self-esteem has been shown to buffer associated effects on increases in cortisol secretion. It may prevent exposure to negative impacts of a person's immune functioning. This biological dysregulation is likely to increase older adults' vulnerability to developing a variety of age-related diseases. Self-esteem could protect physical health among people who experience stressful life events. Furthermore, research suggests that older adulthood is associated with a linear decline in self-esteem. This possibility will be investigated through analysis of data from a longitudinal study of older adults who have been followed over a period of 8 years (Montreal Aging and Health Study). It is hypothesized that declines in self-esteem will predict biological dysregulation of immune systems and increased physical health problems. The results from this research project are likely to discover mechanisms of successful aging that could be targeted in clinical interventions. It may thus contribute to improving quality of life among the elderly population and reduce associated costs for public health services.