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The Primordial Role of Self-Esteem in Social-Emotional Development and Maladaptive Behavior Formation--A Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis

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Title: The Primordial Role of Self-Esteem in Social-Emotional Development and Maladaptive Behavior Formation--A Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis
Language: English
Authors: Qian Liu, Yi Xiao, Yanhui Xiang (ORCID 0000-0002-5317-9708)
Source: Journal of Early Adolescence. 2026 46(3):445-478.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 34
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Grade 4
Intermediate Grades
Grade 7
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, Self Esteem, Social Emotional Learning, Social Development, Emotional Development, Adolescent Development, Child Development, Longitudinal Studies, Child Behavior, Antisocial Behavior, Predictor Variables, Psychological Patterns, Behavior Development, Grade 4, Grade 7, Self Concept Measures, Affective Measures
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale
DOI: 10.1177/02724316251330905
ISSN: 0272-4316
1552-5449
Abstract: Self-esteem has always been one of the most central elements of psychological research. So, what exactly is the role of self-esteem in the social-emotional development and maladaptive behavior formation among children and adolescents? Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory perspective, this study explored the primordial role of self-esteem in human development based on 3-year, 3-wave longitudinal follow-up data from 208 upper elementary and 246 middle school students. Results of cross-lagged network analysis revealed that self-esteem was the strongest predictor of social-emotional and maladaptive behaviors in elementary school grades 4[right arrow]5, 5[right arrow]6, and middle school grades 7[right arrow]8. In grades 8[right arrow]9, although loneliness was the strongest predictor, self-esteem remained one of the most stable predictors. This study reveals for the first time the foundational role of self-esteem in social-emotional and maladaptive behaviors based on a cross-lagged network analysis approach, providing important theoretical implications for understanding the prominence of self-esteem in an individual's physical and mental development. At the same time, it also offers important practical foundations for promoting the physical and mental health of individuals from the perspective of self-esteem intervention.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496281
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: The Primordial Role of Self-Esteem in Social-Emotional Development and Maladaptive Behavior Formation--A Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis
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– Name: Author
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qian+Liu%22">Qian Liu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yi+Xiao%22">Yi Xiao</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yanhui+Xiang%22">Yanhui Xiang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5317-9708">0000-0002-5317-9708</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Early+Adolescence%22"><i>Journal of Early Adolescence</i></searchLink>. 2026 46(3):445-478.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 34
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Esteem%22">Self Esteem</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Emotional+Learning%22">Social Emotional Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Development%22">Social Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotional+Development%22">Emotional Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescent+Development%22">Adolescent Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+Studies%22">Longitudinal Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior%22">Child Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Antisocial+Behavior%22">Antisocial Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictor+Variables%22">Predictor Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Patterns%22">Psychological Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior+Development%22">Behavior Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept+Measures%22">Self Concept Measures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Affective+Measures%22">Affective Measures</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Rosenberg+Self+Esteem+Scale%22">Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22UCLA+Loneliness+Scale%22">UCLA Loneliness Scale</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/02724316251330905
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  Data: 0272-4316<br />1552-5449
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  Data: Self-esteem has always been one of the most central elements of psychological research. So, what exactly is the role of self-esteem in the social-emotional development and maladaptive behavior formation among children and adolescents? Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory perspective, this study explored the primordial role of self-esteem in human development based on 3-year, 3-wave longitudinal follow-up data from 208 upper elementary and 246 middle school students. Results of cross-lagged network analysis revealed that self-esteem was the strongest predictor of social-emotional and maladaptive behaviors in elementary school grades 4[right arrow]5, 5[right arrow]6, and middle school grades 7[right arrow]8. In grades 8[right arrow]9, although loneliness was the strongest predictor, self-esteem remained one of the most stable predictors. This study reveals for the first time the foundational role of self-esteem in social-emotional and maladaptive behaviors based on a cross-lagged network analysis approach, providing important theoretical implications for understanding the prominence of self-esteem in an individual's physical and mental development. At the same time, it also offers important practical foundations for promoting the physical and mental health of individuals from the perspective of self-esteem intervention.
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  Data: 2026
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/02724316251330905
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 34
        StartPage: 445
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Esteem
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Emotional Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotional Development
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      – SubjectFull: Adolescent Development
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      – SubjectFull: Child Development
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      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal Studies
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      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Antisocial Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Predictor Variables
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      – SubjectFull: Psychological Patterns
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      – SubjectFull: Behavior Development
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      – SubjectFull: Grade 4
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      – SubjectFull: Grade 7
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      – SubjectFull: Self Concept Measures
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      – SubjectFull: Affective Measures
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      – SubjectFull: Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale
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      – SubjectFull: UCLA Loneliness Scale
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The Primordial Role of Self-Esteem in Social-Emotional Development and Maladaptive Behavior Formation--A Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis
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            NameFull: Qian Liu
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              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Journal of Early Adolescence
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