Abstract
Low self-esteem is often related to interpersonal difficulties. In fact, low self-esteem people fear rejection and tend to adopt self-protection goals. In the present work, we tested the idea that when low self-esteem individuals decide to sacrifice personal preferences for their relationship, they come to regret those actions, with further consequences for their well-being. We conducted a study with 130 couples, using experience sampling, daily diary, and a 1-year follow-up assessment. Results showed that low self-esteem is related to greater regret of past sacrifices, which, in turn, affects negative mood, stress, and life satisfaction. Furthermore, mediation analyses revealed that low self-esteem individuals feel less supported by the partner after they sacrifice, which helps explaining why they come to regret their sacrifices.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 453-460 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Social Psychological & Personality Science |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 16 May 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 May 2018 |
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (No. 451-12-024) to Francesca Righetti.
Keywords
- close relationships
- perceived support
- prosocial behavior
- regret
- sacrifice
- self-esteem