Depression and self-enhancement among Japanese and American students.
This study examined the cultural generalizibility of the negative relationship between depression and self-enhancement. Japanese (n = 116) and American (n = 125) students completed the Zung (1965) Self-Rating Depression Scale and three measures of self-enhancement (i.e., the tendency to see oneself in a positive light). As expected, Japanese subjects were found to be more depressed and less self-serving than Americans. Negative correlations between depression and self-enhancement measures were obtained for both samples. Regression analyses of the relationships between measures indicated that sample differences in self-enhancement were explained largely by sample differences in depression. It is proposed that, relative to the Americans, Japanese students had a negative self-schema that led to higher depression and lower self-enhancement.
Hymes
R W
RW
Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Michigan, Dearborn 48128.
Akiyama
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D014481:United States