Individualism±collectivism, life events, and self-esteem: a test of two trade-os

The theoretical implications of individualism±collectivism for self-esteem suggest that collectivism is associated with (1) relatively higher self-liking and lower selfcompetence and (2) greater change in self-liking in response to social life events. In contrast, individualism is expected to be associated with (1) relatively higher selfcompetence and lower self-liking and (2) greater change in self-competence in response to achievement-related life events. A 6-month prospective study comparing students in (collectivist) Spain and (individualist) Britain con®rmed the expected di€erences in relative (adjusted) levels of self-liking and self-competence. The predicted di€erential sensitivity to social events was also con®rmed. No evidence for di€erential sensitivity to achievement-related events, however, was found. Copyright # 1999 John Wiley &