Helping strangers can improve self-esteem in teenagers

[Photo: from VCG]

A new research has found out that helping strangers can help teenagers improve their self-esteem and confidence.

Adolescents who revealed pro-social behavior such as helping, sharing, caring and comforting the strangers later experienced an immense self-esteem. However, the same was not true for those who had revealed pro-social behavior merely to their friends and family, says the study which was published in the Journal of Adolescence.

The researchers enrolled 681 adolescents, aged range from 11 to 14 years, in two of the US cities.

The subjects in the study replied to ten statements- such as, "I feel useless at times' or I am satisfied with myself" to improve self-esteem and boost confidence.

Another important finding of the study is that the connection between pro-social behavior and self-esteem has been observed over a one-year period across all lags.  

[The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI] 

（News source: International Business Times)