Positive Relationships Can Boost Your Self-Esteem, Study Finds. The American Psychological Association recently published a research study that encapsulated over 20 years of research in 10 countries. . The study, conducted by Michelle A. Harris and Ulrich Orth, found a distinct relationship between self-esteem and social interactions. For the first time, we have a systematic answer to a key question in the field of self-esteem research: Whether and to what extent a person's social relationships influence his or her self-esteem development, Michelle A. Harris, via EurekAlert. According to the examined research, social support and acceptance were found to play a key factor in the development of self-esteem in people age 4 to 74. . In turn, they also found that self-esteem plays a key factor in the creation of social relationships, creating a “reciprocal link” between the two. . The reciprocal link between self-esteem and social relationships implies that the effects of a positive feedback loop accumulate over time and could be substantial as people go through life. , Michelle A. Harris, via EurekAlert
