The mediation effect of self-esteem on the relationship between personality traits and collective self-esteem in the sample of Latvian arts therapists

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among personality traits, self-esteem and collective self-esteem of Latvian Arts therapistsand specifically to examine a potentially mediating role of self-esteemon the correlation between personality traits and collective self-esteem. The sample of the study consisted of 81 Arts therapists of whom data for 74 AT wereanalysed.The data were collected by Latvian Personality Inventory (LPI-v3), Collective Self-Esteem Scale (CSES), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) including the demographic data. Pearson correlations indicated significant negative moderate correlation between self-esteem and LPI scale Neuroticism, positive moderate correlation between self-esteem and CSES scale Membership self-esteem and between LPI scale Neuroticism and CSES scale Membership self-esteem, therefore mediation analysis was applied to examine the effect of self-esteem ona relationship between Neuroticism and Membership Self-Esteem. Sobel test was used to test the significance of a mediation effect. Results indicated Self-esteem as a significantmediator in the relationship between Neuroticism and Membershipself-esteem.The findings of this research suggest that emotional stability and self-esteem influence Latvian Arts therapist’s senseofidentifyingthemselves as members with their professional group. These results are important for further development of Latvian Arts therapist profession to strengthen Art therapist’s professional identity