(PS8-D88) Living in the Moment: Savoring Predicts Self-esteem in Sample of Latinx Adolescents

Background: Prior research suggests a positive relationship between savoring and self-esteem. Individuals who engage in savoring tendencies, such as prolonging or reflecting on positive experiences, tend to have higher levels of self-esteem and positive affect than those who do not (Quoidbach et al., 2010). This may be because savoring helps individuals focus on their own positive qualities and achievements, which contributes to a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence. Conversely, individuals with low self-esteem are less likely to savor a positive experience and more likely to dampen their feelings when they feel good (Wood et al., 2003). Although this association between savoring and self-esteem is well-established, less is known about the relationship between distinct temporal facets of savoring (i.e., savoring the past, present, or future) and self-esteem. Moreover, the effects of savoring in adolescence are both understudied and relevant to self-esteem, as self-esteem is highly correlated with adolescent academic achievement and mental health (Minev et al., 2018). The current study seeks to address this gap by examining anticipatory, present moment, and reminiscent savoring as predictors of self-esteem in a sample of primarily Latinx adolescents. 

Method: Participants were 9^th graders (N = 252) aged 13-16 (M = 14.34, SD = .55; 89% Latinx) from a diverse high school in a large city in the Southeastern United States. Participants were part of a larger positive psychology intervention trial; however, only data collected during the baseline assessment were analyzed for the purpose of the study. Savoring was measured using the Children’s Savoring Beliefs Inventory: Anticipating Subscale, Savoring the Moment subscale, and Reminiscing subscale (Bryant & Veroff, 2007); self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). 

Results: A multiple linear regression was estimated to examine relationships between anticipatory, present moment, and reminiscent savoring subscales and self-esteem. The results of the regression indicated that the three predictors explained 28.4% of the variance (R² = .28, F(3, 250) = 33.09, p < .001). It was found that savoring the moment significantly predicted self-esteem (β = .37, p < .001), while neither anticipatory savoring (β = .06, p = .27) nor reminiscent savoring (β = -.03, p = .62) were significant predictors of self-esteem.  

Discussion: Engaging in present moment savoring predicted higher self-esteem in the current sample of adolescents. This finding mirrors the literature showing that dispositional mindfulness, which focuses on engaging with the present moment, may lead to greater capacity for high self-esteem (Pepping et al., 2016). Anticipatory and reminiscent savoring did not significantly predict adolescent self-esteem in our model. These findings suggest that cultivating present moment savoring in adolescence may have important implications for self-esteem and confidence. To better inform the development of positive psychology interventions, future research could explore dispositional mindfulness as a moderating factor in the association between savoring and self-esteem during adolescence.