Childhood neglect or trauma is a common cause for low self-esteem, as are dysfunctional family environments and deprivation during childhood. Research suggests that the early foundations of self-worth relate to how our parents treated us. Individuals raised by caregivers who were consistently responsive, attentive and warm tend to have higher self-esteem than individuals raised by parents who were unavailable or emotionally cold or individuals with parents who were inconsistently nurturing. The implied rejection by an unloving parent can become lodged in our subconscious as a limiting belief, a feeling of being unworthy or not “good enough”. The subconscious mind accepts this belief regardless of what the conscious mind understands.

Self-esteem can vary from context to context. For example, some people have a positive sense of self in relation to their sporting abilities or occupational performance but have poor interpersonal (or social) self-worth. The reverse can also be true. Poor self-perception in relation to competence can restrict an individual’s ability to develop their full capacities in academic, occupational and sporting pursuits. Poor social self-worth can lead to social anxiety, loneliness, and relationship difficulties.