Associations of the Level and Instability of Self‐Esteem with Help‐Seeking in Japanese Older Adults

Abstract Some older adults do not seek or may even refuse help when it is available and needed. To explore the psychological basis of this phenomenon, this study examined both the level and instability of self‐esteem and their association with help‐seeking. Data were obtained from 140 older adults aged 65 years and older through a 1‐week diary survey using an experience sampling method. Finally, 134 individuals ( M age = 73.84 years, SD age = 6.57 years; 70 females) were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis revealed that older adults with low self‐esteem and high instability exhibited increased help‐seeking toward family members when all participants were included in the analysis. However, when individuals with outlier values for help‐seeking were excluded, the relationships between self‐esteem and help‐seeking were no longer statistically significant. These results are discussed in relation to the characteristics of older adults and the validity of the help‐seeking indicators used.