Review of Current Research on the Impact of Self-Esteem and Emotional Regulation on Interpersonal Relationships

Abstract

Interpersonal relationship quality is an indispensable indicator of the individual’s social adaptation and mental health. Self-esteem and emotion regulation, being the core psychological mechanisms of interpersonal relationships, have profound impacts on their formation and maintenance. The existing research mostly discusses the role of the two separately, but lacks systematic integration, which limits the theoretical deepening and practical application regarding interpersonal relationships. Based on the systematic literature review adopted from the past two decades, this study comprehensively analyzes the mechanism, interaction, and practical application value of self-esteem and emotion regulation in interpersonal relationships, aiming to fill the current gap in the integration of the two. The research method further discusses self-esteem types and their formation processes, emotion regulation models and strategies, differences in attachment types, and the mediating and regulatory effects of the two in interpersonal interactions, as well as multiple neural, behavioral, and longitudinal research studies. The results show that high and stable self-esteem is conducive to positive interaction, and emotion regulation significantly improves intimacy and satisfaction through cognitive reappraisal and empathetic listening, where different attachment types and situations can determine the efficacy of strategies. The conclusion of this study suggests that education and family intervention should focus on improving adolescents’ self-esteem and emotion regulation ability, and clinical treatment should be based on individual characteristics. Furthermore, constructive emotion regulation habits and positive self-evaluation systems should be developed in the workplace and daily life to promote cooperation and reduce conflict.