Given that many readers of self-help books that encourage positive self-statements are likely to suffer from low self-esteem, they may be worse than useless.
The research, carried out by academics at Columbia University and the University of Pittsburgh, reveals that catching up with friends and socializing online can have a positive effect on self-esteem and well-being.
Dr Wood suggests that positive self-statements cause negative moods in people with low self-esteem because they conflict with those people's views of themselves.