Self-worth and self-value are two related terms that are often used interchangeably. Having a sense of self-worth means that you value yourself, and having a sense of self-value means that you are worthy.

Because of your sense of self-worth, you should feel that you are a good person who deserves to be treated with respect.

The self-worth theory posits that an individual’s main priority in life is to find self-acceptance and that self-acceptance is often found through achievement (Covington & Beery, 1976). In turn, the achievement is often found through competition or comparison with others.

The adolescence period can be challenging, as young people seek independence from parents and family despite not knowing who they really are. Feelings of self-worth are significant during junior and senior high-school years when adolescents make critical decisions about education, career, and marriage.

Self-worth affects not only what a person thinks but essentially what they do and how they respond to peer pressures to change and experiment with many behaviors. Stylish clothes, physical appearance, the number of friends, academic performance, and athletic accomplishments have been identified as factors associated with strong self-confidence.

Undoubtedly, each of these factors plays some role in developing self-image among the youth.

It’s time to connect our faith and life’s guidance with our individual religious beliefs, feelings, and activities because they can positively impact our and our child’s feelings of self-worth.

For that, let’s think about our perception of being a child of God, with our bodies as God’s temple and the hope for eternal life. In addition, thinking about our life purpose and ensuring we are never alone may strengthen our self-worth.