Low self-esteem prospectively predicts depression in adolescence and young adulthood.
Low self-esteem and depression are strongly correlated in cross-sectional studies, yet little is known about their prospective effects on each other. The vulnerability model hypothesizes that low self-esteem serves as a risk factor for depression, whereas the scar model hypothesizes that low self-esteem is an outcome, not a cause, of depression. To test these models, the authors used 2 large longitudinal data sets, each with 4 repeated assessments between the ages of 15 and 21 years and 18 and 21 years, respectively. Cross-lagged regression analyses indicated that low self-esteem predicted subsequent levels of depression, but depression did not predict subsequent levels of self-esteem. These findings held for both men and women and after controlling for content overlap between the self-esteem and depression scales. Thus, the results supported the vulnerability model, but not the scar model, of self-esteem and depression.
Orth
Ulrich
U
Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. uorth@ucdavis.edu
Robins
Richard W
RW
Roberts
Brent W
BW
D000293:Adolescent; D015984:Causality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult