Self-Esteem and Talkaholism: A Gender-Based Analysis of Correlation, Differences, and Moderation

Abstract

Self-esteem plays a significant role in shaping the communication style of an individual, but very little. Limited research has examined its association with talkaholism and the perspective of gender influence on their relationship. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between self-esteem and talkaholism, gender differences in talkaholism, and the moderating role of gender in the relationship between self-esteem and talkaholism. Data were collected from 304 participants (152 males and 152 females) aged 18–25 years, recruited through convenience sampling. Two self-reported scales were used, including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Talkaholic Scale (TAS). Outcomes of Pearson correlation demonstrated a significant positive association between self-esteem and talkaholism (r = .115, p < .05). It suggests that individuals who have high self-esteem are more likely to engage in compulsive talking. Similarly, an independent-samples t-test revealed there is a significant difference among genders, where women reported higher scores on the talkoholism scale than men. Moreover, moderation analysis found that the relationship between self-esteem and talkaholism is moderated by gender (R² = .035, F = 3.62, p = .013), which means that the strength of the relationship between self-esteem and talkaholism differs across genders. The results from statistical analysis proved all our hypotheses and contribute well to the limited literature on talkaholism. It highlights the psychological role of self-esteem and the influence of gender on excessive verbal communication.