Self Esteem for Teenage Girls- Practical Advice for Parents

Being a parent to a teenager can be tricky, and some may have the opinion that a teenage girl is even trickier (but also pretty magical, right?) Self esteem is a fundamental aspect of any persons growth. Self esteem in a teenage girl shapes their mental health, physical health, friendships, and aspirations. According to the CDC, teenage girls are experiencing higher levels of sadness, alcohol use, and violence compared to teenage boys.

Navigating the world of social media, peer expectations, and societal norms can be pretty tough when you don’t even have a fully developed prefrontal lobe yet.

Strengthening self esteem is key to helping teen girls make it through adolescence with confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of self-worth. Keep reading to learn more.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. Understanding Self Esteem
2. Signs of Low Self Esteem
3. Practical Strategies

Understanding Self Esteem

Self esteem refers to how you perceive and value yourself. A teenage girl with healthy self esteem is more likely to take on challenges, develop positive relationships, and have a strong sense of self worth. On the other end, low self-esteem can lead to anxiety, depression, poor life choices, and difficulty making decisions.

Common Factors affecting self esteem-

• Social Media Influence- Constant exposure to unrealistic beauty standards and curated lifestyles can lead to feelings of inadequacy.
• Peer Pressure- The desire to fit in can sometimes lead to compromising values or engaging in unsafe behaviors.
• Family Dynamics- Supportive home environments boost self esteem, while criticism and conflict can lower it.
• Body Image- Negative perceptions about body image can greatly impact self-worth and confidence. Extremely difficult in this modern age when so many things online are photoshopped and not realistic.

Signs of Low Self Esteem

1. Negative self talk- the way that teenagers speak often conveys what they internally believe. Teenage girls with low self esteem may speak negatively about their appearance, personality, or capabilities.
2. Social withdrawal- your teen may pull back from friends and activities that they once enjoyed, often due to insecurities.
3. Perfectionism- teens with low self esteem may set many unrealistic expectations for themselves. If they do not meet those expectations, it can cause them to feel inadequate. 
4. Sensitivity to opinions- your teen may be overly concerned with other people’s opinions of them or what they think about them.
5. Risky behaviors- when a teenager has low self esteem, it can cause them to seek out unhealthy behaviors to make themselves feel better. This can include drugs, alcohol, and sexual activities.
6. Bullying and teasing- sometimes if you feel really bad on the inside, you project it outwards by being mean to those around you.

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Practical Strategies

So you think your teenage daughter has low self esteem. What do you do now? The good news is, this doesn’t mean she will feel this way forever. There are things you can do to help her change her way of thinking and point her towards a healthier future.

1. Encourage positive self talk. This is huge, especially for teenage girls who tend to express their feelings more than teenage boys. They should be encouraged to replace self criticism with positive affirmations. For example, instead of saying, “I’m not good enough,” tell them to practice saying, “I am capable and worthy.”
2. Praise. Give them praise! Commend their efforts and compliment them on their strengths. Provide your teen with positive feedback when they do something well or give it their true best effort. Reinforcing positive behaviors can help boost their confidence.
3. Promote healthy social media habits. Don’t just let them fall victim to ‘doom scrolling’ all night long. Encourage your teen to take breaks. You should also be encouraging them to follow inspiring, healthy accounts instead of ones that cause negative thoughts. Help them to remember that much of what they see is either photoshopped or not a persons full reality.
4. Encourage healthy friendships. If you notice that a friend may be affecting your teens self esteem, bring it up with them. Share with them the types of qualities that you value in a friend- someone who is encouraging, kind, responsible, empathetic etc.
5. Model self love and self compassion. Your teen is a sponge; they soak up way more from you than you may realize. Demonstrate positive self esteem through your words and actions. If teenage girls see the influential adults in their lives practicing self love, speaking positively about themselves, and handling criticism constructively, they are more likely to adopt similar behaviors
6. Address body image positivity. Allow yourself the gift of being the one who talks about body image with your daughter. If you don’t, she might receive harmful messaging from somewhere else. Do your best to help them understand that beauty is diverse, and that their worth is not tied to their appearance. Teaching self-care, emphasizing health over looks, and exposing them to body positive role models can counteract negative societal messages.

Recap of Self Esteem for Teenage Girls- Practical Advice for Parents

Teenage girls who develop healthy self esteem are more likely to grow into confident, independent, and emotionally strong adults. They will make informed decisions, pursue their goals with determination, and foster meaningful relationships.

By promoting positive self esteem through encouragement, education, and empowerment, we can help teenage girls navigate adolescence with confidence, ultimately shaping a generation of strong, self-assured women ready to take on the world!

If you feel like your teenage daughter may benefit from professional help, that is completely reasonable. A therapist can help you get to the deeper causes of your teens negative self esteem and help with things like negative thought loops, substance abuse, and other mental health issues that may be contributing to low self esteem.