Understanding the Link Between Low Self-Esteem and Depression

Dados Bibliográficos

ID23374086
AutoresUli Orth (0000-0002-4795-515X, University of Basel), Richard W Robins (0000-0002-5088-3484, University of California, Davis)
Ano2013
Volume22
Fascículo6
Páginas455-460
Data de publicação2013-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoCurrent Directions in Psychological Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0963-7214 • E-ISSN: 1467-8721
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0963721413492763
OpenAlexW2162235892
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas118
Referências citadas33

Although it is well documented that low self-esteem and depression are related, the precise nature of the relation has been a topic of ongoing debate. We describe several theoretical models concerning the link between self-esteem and depression, and review recent research evaluating the validity of these competing models. Overall, the available evidence provides strong support for the vulnerability model (low self-esteem contributes to depression), weaker support for the scar model (depression erodes self-esteem), and little support for alternative accounts such as the diathesis-stress model. Moreover, the vulnerability model is robust and holds across gender, age, affective-cognitive versus somatic symptoms of depression, European background versus Mexican-origin participants, and clinical versus nonclinical samples. Research on further specifications of the vulnerability model suggests that the effect is (a) partially mediated by rumination, (b) not influenced by other characteristics of self-esteem (i.e., stability and contingency), and (c) driven predominantly by global rather than domain-specific self-esteem. The research has important theoretical implications because it counters the commonly repeated claim that self-esteem has no long-term impact. Moreover, the research has important practical implications, suggesting that depression can be prevented, or reduced, by interventions that improve self-esteem.

Cognition · Depression (economics) · Developmental psychology · Diathesis–stress model · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Rumination · Self-esteem · Vulnerability (computing) · Clinical Psychology · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology