Sex and Self-Esteem Moderate Response to Self-Affirmation Following Mortality Salience

This study examined whether sex and self-esteem moderate response to self-affirmation following mortality salience. For those low in self-esteem, personal achievement affirmation (for men) and friendship affirmation (for women) protected against increased loneliness. These findings indicate the importance of examining factors that moderate responses to both mortality salience and self-affirmation.