ABSTRACT
A dolescence is a time defined by its intense changes, a dramatic storm of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. Research suggests that self-esteem declines in early adolescence, particularly for females who report significantly lower rates of self-esteem and higher rates of depressed mood (Kearney-Cooke, 1999). Harter (2006) hypothesizes that this decline is most likely due to negative body images that emerge during pubertal changes. Physical appearance, in particular, contributes to self-esteem during the teenage years, and teenagers’ perceptions of their attractiveness are the single, strongest predictor of adolescent self-esteem.
