Survey on Self-Esteem by THE BEAUTE CLINIC: 1 in 2 People Experience a Decrease in Self-Esteem Compared to Others

THE BEAUTE CLINIC (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Motokuni Kida), a beauty clinic operating under the concept of 'Love Yourself,' conducted the 'Love Yourself Survey,' a questionnaire on self-esteem targeting 1,000 men and women aged 10 to 80 nationwide.

In an environment where it is easy to compare oneself with others due to social media, peer evaluations, appearance, age, title, and standard of living, the survey aimed to clarify when people living in Japan tend to experience a decline in self-esteem and what is needed for self-acceptance.

According to the 'Survey on the Attitudes of Children and Youth in Japan and Other Countries' conducted by the Children and Families Agency in FY2023, only 57.4% of Japanese youth reported being satisfied with themselves. This represents a lower trend compared to the US, Germany, France, and Sweden, which all exceeded 70%.*

Based on these findings, Director Kida, who overcame his own struggles with self-acceptance, seeks to support individuals lacking confidence through medical care and messaging. This survey focused on factors that cause self-esteem to fluctuate in daily life.

* Source: Children and Families Agency 'FY2024 White Paper on Children and Youth' Special Feature (FY2023 Survey). Target: Males and females aged 13 to 29 in Japan, the US, Germany, France, and Sweden.

[Survey Overview] - Survey Name: Questionnaire Survey on Self-Esteem - Survey Method: Internet survey - Target: 1,000 men and women aged 15 to 86 nationwide (500 men, 500 women) - Period: May 18, 2026, to May 31, 2026 - Sponsor: THE BEAUTE CLINIC * When using the survey results, please credit 'Source: THE BEAUTE CLINIC Survey.' * This survey is intended to understand general public awareness and is not for psychological or medical diagnosis.

[Summary of Survey Results] - 46.6% of respondents do not accept their current selves. - 1 in 2 people experienced a decrease in self-esteem compared to others over the past year. - 55.5% judge their own value based on appearance, age, title, or standard of living. - Approximately half of social media users experienced feelings of inferiority toward other users. - The top trigger for a decline in self-esteem is 'anxiety about the future.' - Pressures related to 'how one should be' are concentrated on 'achievements, leeway, and positivity.' - When self-esteem drops, 'doing nothing' is the most common response. - The most common mindset to maintain self-esteem is 'valuing one's own pace.' - The most requested interaction from others to improve self-esteem is 'not rejecting even in failure.'

[Survey Result 1: 46.6% Do Not Accept Themselves] To the question, 'Do you think you can accept your current self, including both good and weak aspects?', 46.6% answered negatively. By gender, there was little difference, with 46.4% of men and 46.8% of women.

[Survey Result 2: 1 in 2 Experienced Lower Self-Esteem Due to Comparison Over the Past Year] To the question, 'Have you experienced a drop in self-esteem compared to others over the past year?', 51.5% answered 'often' or 'sometimes.' By gender, women (55.8%) exceeded men (47.2%). By age group, teenagers (59.5%) and people in their 40s (56.0%) showed high percentages.

[Comment by Dr. Yusuke Shido] In this survey, more than one in two people reported that 'self-esteem due to comparison with others'