J Korean Acad Fam Med.  1997 Feb;18(2):136-146.

The relationship between self esteem and physical health

• Jung HJ
• Shin WC
• Park TJ
• Kim BS
• Lim EJ
• Gwak SW
• Lee KY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psychogenic and physical aspects of health is interesting issue in the field of family medicine. We intended to study the relationship between physical illness and symptoms with self esteem, and hoped to understand disease in general behavioral context.
METHODS
We selected 124 persons who visited family medicine OPD in Paik Hospital from August 3 to August 20, 1995, and answered questionnaire frankly. The qestionnaire consisted of Rosenberg self esteem scale as paremeter of self esteem and Hopkins symptom check list as parameter of physical health. The third author analyzed the medical record and rated the severity of disease as grade I-VII, for another parameter of physical health. The other factors-age, sex, marriage, education level, family, income-were analyzed by self esteem.
RESULTS
We divided the study population into two groups, low self esteem group and high self esteem group. In low self esteem group, the persons complain more symptoms in Hopkins symptom check list significantly(P=0.009). Those who were highly educated had significantly higher self esteem(P=0.047). The severity of disease, sex, age, marriage, type of family, income showed no significant relationship with self esteem.
CONCLUSIONS
The education level was the factor that influence self esteem. The person of low self esteem complains more symptoms. So we should consider self esteem in medical practice.

MeSH Terms

Education
Hope
Humans
Marriage
Medical Records
Self Concept*
Surveys and Questionnaires