The interpersonal consequences of inflated self-esteem in an inpatient psychiatric youth sample

This study tested R. F. Baumeister, L. Smart, and J. M. Boden's (1996) theo ry of inflated self-esteem with an inpatient psychiatric youth sample. Part icipants were assessed on their self-reported self-esteem, self-reported in terpersonal problems, and peer rejection (measured by evaluations from 3 or 4 peers). Consistent with the hypotheses, those with low self-esteem repor ted the most interpersonal problems, followed consecutively by the moderate self-esteem group and then the high self-esteem group, who reported the fe west interpersonal problems. Also in line with the hypotheses, those with l ow and high self-esteem were rejected by their peers when compared with the moderate self-esteem group, Thus, the high self-esteem group was rejected by their peers but did not themselves report interpersonal problems. These findings provide further support for Baumeister et al.'s theory and general ize the theory to a clinical setting.