How can I build my confidence and self-esteem is a question that you or your teenager may have asked before or even Googled! Low Self-esteem is something that many people struggle with, and at different stages of their life.
Self-esteem in teenagers
Self-esteem is how someone feels about themselves.
More often than not it is the factors that surround us and our environment that can have the greatest impact. External factors can impact our self-esteem both positively and negatively.
“33%-50% of adolescents struggle with low self-esteem in the UK. 61% of 10-17-year-old girls in the UK have low self-esteem. And 35% of teens in the UK have stopped eating at some point due to worrying about their body image”, according to statistics reported by theyarethefuture.co.uk.
Self-esteem can be impacted by home life, school life, social media and many other various factors.
The effects of the pandemic on self-esteem
A study conducted by Rev Paul Pediatr in 2022 (post pandemic), stated that there was a “strong association between social isolation and anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. Social isolation leads to higher levels of cortisol and worse cognitive development.”
Even though many people have put the pandemic behind them, the effects in some cases, are still yet to be fully understood.
At The Gifted, we have seen first-hand how the pandemic has negatively impacted a demographic that is already prone to confidence struggles.
Confidence struggles in teenage girls
“According to a survey of more than 1,300 girls ages 8 to 18 and their parents, confidence levels fall by 30 percent for girls between the ages of 8 and 14.” (Parents.com)
When young people take part in our Butterfly Project, they come to us with various concerns. More often than not, their issues can be traced back to low self-esteem. However, after completing the programme over 80% of participants have said that their confidence has increased as a result.
Practical ways to improve self-esteem
There are some practical ways that you can address low self-esteem. These include being kind to yourself, looking after yourself, focusing on the positives and spending time with people.
Another way is through The Butterfly Digital, our online version of The Butterfly Project.
Developed as a result of the pandemic and aimed at 11-18 year olds, this online version of our flagship programme means that we can reach people outside of our usual areas of operation (Hertfordshire, Essex and North London).
The course is completely free and covers a range of subjects. These include; raising self-esteem, looking at self-identity, building resilience and more. Not only can the course can be accessed at any time, it is also self-paced, making it accessible for anyone.
If this is something you or someone you know would like to take part in, you can register here.
