Interconnected symbols of self-esteem, leadership, and resilience in Kuala Lumpur

Unlocking Potential: How Self-Esteem, Leadership, and Resilience Shape Young Adults

Reese Marlowe in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the crucial roles these factors play in at-risk youth versus their well-adjusted peers and empower them for a brighter future"

In every society, the transition from adolescence to adulthood marks a pivotal period, one where young individuals begin to shape their roles as future leaders and contributors. Ensuring the well-being of these adolescents is paramount, requiring a focus on their physical, mental, psychological, and spiritual health. However, adolescence can be a turbulent time, fraught with identity crises and pressures that can lead some down challenging paths.

While many adolescents successfully navigate this period, becoming stable and successful adults, others grapple with negative influences like delinquency, substance abuse, and crime. Understanding the factors that contribute to these divergent outcomes is crucial for effective intervention and support.

In Malaysia, the issue of illegal motorbike racing, often involving at-risk youth known as "mat rempit," has become a national concern. These individuals, frequently highlighted in the media for reckless behavior, underscore the urgent need to understand the underlying factors driving their actions. Investigating the roles of self-esteem, leadership capabilities, and resilience in this population, compared to their well-adjusted peers, can provide valuable insights for targeted interventions.

The Pillars of Success: Self-Esteem, Leadership, and Resilience Defined

Interconnected symbols of self-esteem, leadership, and resilience in Kuala Lumpur

To effectively address the challenges faced by at-risk youth, it's essential to understand the key concepts of self-esteem, leadership, and resilience. These three elements often act as cornerstones for personal growth and positive societal contribution.

Self-esteem, as defined by Malbi and Reasoner (2000), is the overall evaluation of oneself, whether positive or negative. Rosenberg (1965) supports this by noting that self-esteem reflects an individual's orientation toward themselves and their sense of self-worth. High self-esteem often correlates with better interpersonal skills and conflict resolution abilities.

Improved Social Skills: Individuals with high self-esteem tend to form new friendships more easily.
Enhanced Communication: They communicate their thoughts and feelings more effectively.
Emotional Support: They are often better at providing emotional support to others.
Conflict Resolution: They navigate and resolve interpersonal conflicts more adeptly.

Leadership, in this context, does not refer to formal positions but rather the ability to influence others, even within a potentially negative setting. Northouse (2009) defines leadership as the process through which an individual influences a group to achieve a common goal. The ability to inspire and guide peers can significantly impact the direction a young person's life takes. Finally, resilience, as Klarreich (1998) explains, is the capacity to face challenges and emerge stronger from adverse experiences. Masten (2001) emphasizes resilience as a dynamic process influenced by everyday decisions, acting as a protective mechanism in risky situations. For at-risk youth, resilience is particularly vital in navigating negative influences.

Empowering the Next Generation

This research underscores the critical need for continuous and targeted intervention programs aimed at empowering at-risk youth. By focusing on enhancing self-esteem, cultivating leadership skills, and fostering resilience, we can equip young people with the tools they need to overcome challenges and contribute positively to society. Future research should explore additional factors, such as family and school environments, to develop more comprehensive strategies for building resilience and promoting positive outcomes for all adolescents.

About this Article -

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5539/ass.v8n8p61, Alternate LINK

Title: A Cooperative Study Of Self-Esteem, Leadership And Resilience Amongst Illegal Motorbike Racers And Normal Adolescents In Malaysia

Subject: General Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Journal: Asian Social Science

Publisher: Canadian Center of Science and Education

Authors: Wan Shahrazad, W. S., Fauziah I., Asmah Bee M. N., Ismail B.

Published: 2012-06-29

Everything You Need To Know

What is self-esteem and why is it important for young adults?

Self-esteem, as defined by Malbi and Reasoner (2000), is the overall evaluation of oneself, whether positive or negative. High self-esteem is crucial because it often correlates with better interpersonal skills and conflict resolution abilities. This includes improved social skills, enhanced communication, the ability to provide emotional support, and adept conflict resolution. For young adults, especially those at risk, a positive sense of self-worth can significantly impact their ability to navigate challenges and make positive life choices.

How does leadership manifest in young adults, and what role does it play?

Leadership, in this context, isn't about formal positions but the ability to influence others, even within a potentially negative setting. Northouse (2009) defines it as the process of an individual influencing a group to achieve a common goal. This influence can significantly impact a young person's life. Inspiring and guiding peers can shift their direction, encouraging positive choices and reducing the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors, such as those observed in the 'mat rempit' phenomenon in Malaysia.

What is resilience and how does it help at-risk youth?

Resilience is the capacity to face challenges and emerge stronger from adverse experiences, as explained by Klarreich (1998). Masten (2001) emphasizes it as a dynamic process influenced by everyday decisions, acting as a protective mechanism. For at-risk youth, resilience is particularly vital in navigating negative influences like delinquency, substance abuse, and crime. It equips them with the ability to bounce back from setbacks and make positive choices despite challenging circumstances.

Can you explain the key differences between at-risk youth and well-adjusted peers concerning self-esteem, leadership, and resilience?

At-risk youth often demonstrate lower levels of self-esteem, making them more vulnerable to negative influences. Their leadership skills might be used within negative peer groups, rather than for positive goals. Their resilience levels may be lower, making it harder to cope with adversity. In contrast, well-adjusted peers typically possess higher self-esteem, which promotes positive relationships and better conflict resolution. They may use their leadership abilities to guide others toward positive activities and have a greater capacity to handle stress and overcome challenges because of their resilience.

How can we cultivate self-esteem, leadership skills, and resilience in at-risk youth to empower them for a brighter future?

Enhancing self-esteem involves programs that promote self-worth through positive reinforcement, skill-building, and opportunities for success. Cultivating leadership skills can involve mentorship programs and training in communication and decision-making. Fostering resilience requires teaching coping mechanisms, providing support systems, and encouraging positive behaviors. It is essential to provide continuous and targeted intervention programs aimed at empowering at-risk youth. Future research should explore additional factors, such as family and school environments, to develop more comprehensive strategies.