Background Cognitive insight and self‐esteem are vital psychological constructs that influence treatment engagement, self‐regulation, and recovery in psychiatric populations. Although both have been studied independently, limited research, particularly in Türkiye, has examined their relationship in outpatient settings, where long‐term self‐management is crucial. Understanding how cognitive insight is associated with self‐esteem could help inform personalized and culturally appropriate mental health interventions. Methods This cross‐sectional correlational study was conducted at a large, urban, publicly funded outpatient psychiatric clinic in Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 148 adult outpatients were recruited using convenience sampling. Participants completed the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation analyses were then performed. Results A moderate positive correlation was found between cognitive insight and RSES total scores ( r = 0.275, p < 0.01). Since higher RSES scores indicate lower self‐esteem, this finding suggests that greater cognitive insight is associated with lower self‐esteem in this sample. Conclusions The findings show a significant link between cognitive insight and self‐esteem scores. Due to the scoring method of the RSES, higher cognitive insight was linked to lower self‐esteem in this sample. These results highlight the potential clinical value of adding insight‐focused assessments and interventions in outpatient psychiatric care within similar settings. Considering the limited data from Türkiye and comparable healthcare systems, this study provides culturally relevant insights for improving patient‐centered mental health practices.
Apaydın et al. (Thu,) studied this question.