Self-esteem fully mediates positive life events and depressive symptoms in a sample of 173 patients with affective disorders

Sarubin, N.; Goerigk, Stephan; Padberg, Frank; Übleis, A.; Jobst, Andrea; Erfurth, Andreas; Schumann, C.; Nadjiri, A.; Dewald-Kaufmann, Julia F.; Falkai, Peter ; Bühner, Markus; Naumann, F. und Hilbert, Sven (28. November 2018): Self-esteem fully mediates positive life events and depressive symptoms in a sample of 173 patients with affective disorders. In: Psychology and Psychotherapy-theory Research and Practice, Bd. 93, Nr. 1: S. 21-35

Abstract

Objectives Previous research showed that positive and negative life events influence the development of depression. However, it is less clear how life events interact with depressive symptoms and self‐esteem.

Design and methods The present study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of self‐esteem on the relationship between life events and depressive symptoms in adulthood. The Traumatic Antecedent Questionnaire, Multidimensional Self‐esteem Scale (MSWS), and Becks Depression Inventory were administered in 173 psychiatric inpatients (mean age 39.69 ± 14.56 years, ranging from 18 to 76 years). At the time of assessment, all patients suffered from depressive symptoms caused by an affective disorder (major depression, bipolar I, dysthymia).

Results Path analyses showed that the individual level of self‐esteem (measured by MSWS) fully mediated the association between positive life events and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions The current study indicates that future therapy programmes for patients with depressive symptoms could include interventions focusing on the improvement of self‐esteem, as increasing self‐esteem may be beneficial for recovery.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Psychologie und Pädagogik > Department Psychologie > Psychologische Methodenlehre und Diagnostik
• Themengebiete: 100 Philosophie und Psychologie > 150 Psychologie
• ISSN: 1476-0835; 2044-8341
• Sprache: Englisch