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Date Available

5-8-2026

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College

Communication and Information

Department/School/Program

Communication

Faculty

Kelly McAninch

Faculty

Renee Kaufmann

Abstract

People’s interpersonal relationships and social groups are connected to their self-esteem. Equestrians, a social group unified around riding or working with horses, form identities based on their involvement in the equine industry, whether that be recreationally or professionally. Equestrians’ subjective views of self-esteem may be related to their overall well-being. Theories related to self-esteem and identity indicate that communication within social relationships, like within the equine industry, may impact an individuals’ sense of self-worth. Facebook groups have increased in popularity in the equine industry due to the ease of communication between equestrians. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between self-esteem and equestrian communication on Facebook groups. Grounded in sociometer theory and social identity theory, this study examined threats to belongingness, active participation, intergroup conflict, and status level as being associated with self-esteem. This study used a one-time survey distributed on four equestrian Facebook groups in Central Kentucky. The results found a negative association between threats to belongingness, active participation, and intergroup conflict with self-esteem, while status level was found to be positively associated with self-esteem. The findings indicate the importance of applying self-esteem research to various contexts. Doing so can widen the scope of this research, extending previous scholarship into new territory, and uncovering more information about the relationship between communication and self-esteem.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.216

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Archival

Funding Information

This study was supported by internal faculty development funds (no.: 1012005030) in 2026.

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