Broken Mirrors: The Role of Self-Esteem In Linking Parental Emotional Abuse to Peer Relationship

Background: According to Cooley’s “Looking-glass Self” theory, an individual’s self-image is shaped by how others perceive and evaluate them. In particular, children form their self-image based on the perceptions and attitudes of their parents, who are their primary significant others. One of the core functions of the family is to provide emotional support; however, the absence of such support becomes a critical impediment that hinders the formation of positive self-perception, which is essential during developmental stages. In particular, when parents inflict abuse instead of providing emotional support, children develop a negative self-image, which can lead to damage to the attachment system and psychological withdrawal. Furthermore, these psychological mechanisms risk being transferred to peer relationships, a core social system during adolescence. Adolescence is a critical period for establishing self-identity, marked by a decrease in dependence on parents and a rapid intensification of interactions with peers; the formation of a negative self-esteem during this period can influence peer relationships.

Previous research has lacked an exploration of the specific psychological mechanisms through which experiences of parental emotional abuse are transferred to peer relationships in adolescence. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the structural relationship between parental emotional abuse and adolescents’ peer relationships and to verify the mediating role of self-esteem in this process. Through this, we aim to explore intervention strategies to restore self-esteem and interpersonal relationships among adolescents who have experienced abuse.

Methods: This study utilized data from the 2023 survey, a nationally representative sample survey in South Korea, with a final sample of 1,571 adolescents aged 14 to 19. To verify the indirect pathway from parental emotional abuse to peer relationships via self-esteem, PROCESS Macro Model 4 was utilized.

Results: The analysis revealed that 28.9% of all adolescents reported experiencing emotional abuse from their parents. Regression analysis revealed that the path from emotional abuse (X) to self-esteem (M) was significant (coeff. = -.08, 95% CI = -.12 to -.05), and the path from self-esteem (M) to peer relationships (Y) was also significant (coeff. = .53, 95% CI = .45 to .60). In other words, it was confirmed that the more emotional abuse adolescents experience, the lower their self-esteem becomes, and that self-esteem has a positive influence on peer relationships. Bootstrap analysis revealed that the direct effect of emotional abuse was not significant, while the indirect and total effects were significant, indicating a full mediation effect.

Conclusions and Implications: As suggested by the “Looking-glass Self” theory, it has been confirmed that adolescents’ self-esteem during the process of becoming independent from their parents is significantly influenced by the attitudes of their primary caregivers. In particular, emotional abuse experienced from parents first undermines adolescents’ internalized sense of self-worth, and this damaged self-esteem ultimately leads to a decline in their ability to form relationships within their peer group. Therefore, we recommend that psychological and emotional support aimed at restoring damaged self-esteem and reconstructing a positive self-image be provided as a priority to adolescents who have been victims of emotional abuse.