Dr Jessen: We can give teens self-belief

Results from a new survey into teenage self-esteem suggest that one in four girls aged 11 to 17 are weighed down by pressure to conform to a perceived ideal of how they should look. The survey predicts that this will have a disastrous effect on the career prospects of the affected teenagers, and that Britain could lose 319,000 future high-fliers by 2050 unless young women can be helped to retain confidence in their abilities. But I think this is over-dramatic.

The results were gathered by interviewing 500 girls across the UK about their habits, beauty regimes and how they see themselves. Among many of the conclusions was that a lack of physical confidence has led to girls spending an average of 42 minutes a day choosing outfits and applying make-up, with more than half saying they would be happier if they were more physically attractive.

I don’t think this is a surprise or abnormal or indicative of any sort of problem. All teenagers spend hours getting ready. I don’t know of a single teen who is comfortable in their own skin. It’s part of the trials and terrors of the teenage years.

True self-esteem issues are very real and should be recognised, however, and it is no exaggeration that they are becoming more common. They can stem from various sources; certain media outlets and airbrushed images of celebrities are often blamed.

Low self-esteem alone is not a recognised psychological problem but it can affect mental health. It can lead to poor performance, which reinforces the negative feelings over time, leading to depression. There is also a higher risk of developing problems such as eating disorders or social phobias.

Self-esteem issues can be temporary and short lived, or they can become a lifelong battle.

Self-esteem comes from core beliefs about a person’s value. Treatment, where needed, involves challenging these beliefs and changing them.

A technique that some GPs are suggesting is “mindfulness”. Although disputed by some, it is supported by evidence and seems promising. It’s a way of paying attention to the present, using techniques such as meditation and focused breathing, that helps people become more aware of their feelings, and able to manage them better.

It’s based on the observation that our minds are easily distracted, and linger most on the past or in the future, and rarely on the here and now. It doesn’t promise to eliminate life’s pressures but can help us respond to them in a calmer, more productive manner.

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