CORRELATES OF SELF-ESTEEM AMONG THE LEBANESE POPULATION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: To the best of our knowledge, no studies have been conducted in order to assess the correlation of these factors with the self-esteem in Lebanon. Therefore, this study aims to assess risk factors associated with self- esteem among a representative sample of the Lebanese population. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional, conducted between November 2017 and March 2018, enrolled 789 participants. Selfesteem was measured using the Rosenberg scale. An exploratory factor analysis was executed to detect patterns of risk factors associated with self-esteem from our sample. A cluster analysis was then performed with the identified factor scores to identify the different profiles of the participants. Results: Relationship management (Beta=0.117), emotional awareness(Beta=0.074) and personal accomplishment (Beta=0.064)were associated with a higher self-esteem, whereas high depression (Beta=-0.102), alexithymia (Beta=-0.077), burnout depersonalization(Beta=-0.078), suicidal ideation (Beta=-0.391) were associated with a lower self-esteem. Factor 1 (High emotional intelligence & low depersonalization) (Beta=1.819) was associated with increased self-esteem, whereas Factor 2 (High suicidal ideation, high alcohol dependence, high depression and anxiety) and Factor 3 (Highburnout, high stress and high alexithymia) were associated with decreased self-esteem (Beta=-1.380 and Beta=-0.751) respectively. Being widowed (Beta=-2.332), belonging to cluster 1 (People with emotional dysregulation) (Beta=-2.850) and cluster 2 (People in distress) (Beta=-3.660) were significantly associated with decreased self-esteem. Conclusions: Depression, anxiety, burnout, stress, low emotional intelligence, alexithymia, suicide ideation, alcohol dependence and many other factors can be prevented, or reduced, by interventions that improve self-esteem