People often say that young Japanese people have low self-esteem. In a survey of about 17,000 people in 53 countries, Japan's average score was one of the lowest. But the scores in every country were above the middle.

Also, people in some cultures often choose the middle answer. In Japan, being modest is important, so people may not praise themselves. A low score does not always mean people dislike themselves.

It is often said that Japanese young people have very low self-esteem. In 2005, two psychologists gave the same self-esteem questionnaire, translated into 28 languages, to about 17,000 people in 53 countries. Every country's average was above the middle of the scale, so seeing yourself positively seems to be universal. Japan's average was among the lowest.

However, the researchers noticed that people in collectivist cultures tended to choose neutral answers, and that negative statements were understood differently in different countries. They concluded that directly comparing countries with this scale has limited value. Other researchers point out that in Japan, focusing on your weaknesses in order to improve is often seen as a good way to live.

Ask young people in Japan whether they are satisfied with themselves, and relatively few say yes, at least in international surveys. The media often turns this into a claim that Japanese youth have exceptionally low self-esteem. To look at the question systematically, Schmitt and Allik gave the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, translated into 28 languages, to roughly 17,000 people in 53 nations. The average score in every nation sat above the theoretical midpoint, so a generally positive self-view appeared to be universal. Japan ranked at or near the bottom.

But the authors warned against reading simple rankings. Respondents in collectivist cultures tended to choose neutral answers, and negatively worded items seemed to be understood differently from one nation to another. Comparing national averages on this scale, they concluded, is of limited value. That does not make low scores meaningless.

Response style cannot explain everything, and strongly negative self-views are known to go along with mental health problems. Cultural psychologists have pushed the question further and asked whether the need for positive self-regard is truly universal at all. In Japan, criticizing yourself in order to improve may be seen as a virtue, so a modest self-rating need not signal distress.