title: Life stress and dysphoria: the role of self-esteem and hopelessness.
abstract: This study evaluated the hypotheses that the relation between life stress (life events and daily hassles) and longitudinal change in dysphoria would be (a) moderated by self-esteem and (b) mediated by longitudinal change in hopelessness. Eighty undergraduates were first assessed on self-esteem, hopelessness, and dysphoria and then reassessed 3 months later on life events, daily hassles, hopelessness, and dysphoria. Residual change in dysphoria was significantly associated with self-esteem, life stress, and a Self-Esteem X Life Stress interaction. However, inconsonant with predictions, the moderating impact of self-esteem was greatest under conditions of low (vs. high) life stress. Moreover, residual change in hopelessness mediated the relations between residual change in dysphoria and both self-esteem and life stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Whisman
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors