Investigating the protective role of global self-esteem on the relationship between stressful life events and depression
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Investigating the protective role of global self-esteem on the relationship between stressful life events and depression: A longitudinal moderated regression model Francesco Dentale 1 & Michele Vecchione 2 & Guido Alessandri 3 & Claudio Barbaranelli 3
# Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract The present study was aimed at investigating the protective role of Global Self-Esteem (GSE) on the relationship between stressful life events and depression. A longitudinal research design, including two measurement occasions with a two-month interval was applied on a sample of 95 university students (80 females) with a mean age of 22.49 (SD = 6.77). A series of scales were administered in both occasions: the Daily Event Checklist (DEC), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale(RSES) and the Center of Epidemiological Study Depression Scale (CES_D). Longitudinal moderated regression models were performed, including DEC, RSES and their interaction (DEC x RSES) as predictors, the baseline level of CES_D as a covariate and the final level of CES_D as criterion. Results showed a negative and significant interaction between predictors, indicating that the prospective effect of stressful life events on depression become weaker as self-esteem increases. Specifically, the detrimental effect of stressful daily life events was observed only at low levels of self-esteem. Similar results were found when a bi-factorial model was applied to the RSES, with the aim to obtain an unbiased estimate of GSE, controlling for potential method effects due to item wording. The main strengths and weaknesses of the study were discussed. Keywords Protective role of self-esteem . Negative daily life events . Depression
The Origins of Global Self-Esteem Concept Self-Esteem (SE)was conceptually investigated for the first time by William James (1890), who defined it as the relationship between Bwhat a person perceived to be^ and Bwhat a person wants to be^. In accordance with this view, if a main subjective goal is accomplished, individuals tend to experience a sense of self-worth. This definition remained a reference point for modern theorizations, which conceived SE as the evaluative dimension of the self-concept (e.g. Markus 1977). SE includes a stable component reflecting a consistent personality characteristic (i.e. Global Self-Esteem; GSE), and * Francesco Dentale [email protected] 1
Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, via degli Apuli, 1, Rome, Italy
2
Department of Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
3
Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
a state component (i.e. feeling of self-worth), which can be influenced by contextual factors (Brown and Marshall 2006). Interestingly, different levels of GSE correspond to opposite behavioral strategies in response to risky situations. More specifically, high GSE people are usually inclined to use selfenhancing behavioral strategies in several
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