Eastern board-game producing self-esteem (3)
I believe the answer is:
ego
'self-esteem' is the definition.
(ego can mean one's sense of self)
'eastern board-game' is the wordplay.
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'board game' becomes 'go' (go is a kind of board game).
'e'+'go'='EGO'
'producing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ego that I've seen before include "One's self-image" , "In Virgil I" , "Self-esteem or self-importance" , "(Self-assertive) personality" , "Part of the mind" .)