Links among the Self, Stress, and Psychological Distress during Emerging Adulthood

Comparing Three Theoretical Models

Bibliographic Data

ID15411368
AuthorsMoran Schiller (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, corresponding author), Constance C Hammen (University of California, Los Angeles), Golan Shahar (0000-0003-3796-5749, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume15
Issue3
Pages302-326
Publication date2016-02-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSelf and Identity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1529-8868 • E-ISSN: 1529-8876
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15298868.2015.1131736
OpenAlexW2281422496
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited149

The authors tested three theoretical models linking self, stress, and psychopathological distress in emerging adulthood. The vulnerability model posits that self-concept pathology leads to distress. The scarring model postulates that distress and stress lead to self-concept pathology. The stress generation model stipulates that distress and self-concept pathology lead to the experience of episodic and chronic life stress. Change in ruminative brooding was examined as a potential mechanism in all models. One-hundred and seventy Israeli freshmen (M[age] = 23.19, 68% females) were followed up three times over the duration of one year. Distress and six dimensions of the self (self-criticism, self-concept inadequacy, hated sense of self, self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, and self-concept clarity) were assessed repeatedly. Acute and chronic stresses were measured at Time 2 using the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Stress Interview. Distress prospectively predicted self-concept pathology pertaining to all of the dimensions, except self-concept clarity, which was adversely affected by chronic stress. Change in ruminative brooding mediated scarring for self-criticism, a hated self, and self-concept clarity. Low self-esteem emerged as a powerful chronic stress generator. Self-concept clarity was as the only dimension leading to change in distress. In emerging adulthood, psychological distress and—to a lesser extent—chronic stress might “scar” the self

CLARITY · Developmental psychology · Distress · Mental health · Psychological distress · Psychology of self · Psychopathology · Psychotherapist · Self-concept · Stress (linguistics · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Psychology · Social Psychology