2017 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 175-186
This study examined the effects over time of freshmen’s self-enhancing self-presentation toward their friends on evaluation from friends, and their mutual relational satisfaction and self-esteem. A total of 232 freshmen (116 pairs, 134 males and 98 females) participated in a longitudinal study in which they completed a questionnaire four times (April, May, June, and July, given that the new school year begins in April). Participants were required to pair up with a same-sex friend, and respond to the questionnaire about themselves and their friend. Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, results revealed that the more “competent” and “likeable” participants presented themselves toward their friends in May, the higher their relational satisfaction with their friends and self-esteem in July. Perceived evaluation from friends in June positively mediated the influence of self-presentation in May on relational satisfaction, and self-esteem in July. In addition, when they engaged in self-presentation as a likeable person in May, their friends actually evaluated them as likeable in June, which led to higher perception of the friends’ relational satisfaction in July. The results were discussed in terms of the beneficial consequences of freshmen’s self-enhancing self-presentation toward friends.
