A Pilot Examination of Self-Esteem, Depression, and Sleep in College Women

Abstract

While sleep deficits in adulthood are common and worsening, college females experience significantly more sleep problems and depression than their male counterparts. In recent years, sleep has been investigated as one of the primary contributors to college functioning and GPA. No known study, however, has investigated the connection between self-esteem, depression and sleep. Questionnaire assessments were given to 42 female college juniors and seniors, including: demographic information, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Pittsburg Quality Sleep Index. The current study investigates the relation between college selfesteem and sleep quality, as mediated by depression. The results of the study indicate that selfesteem predicts both depression and sleep quality, such that decreased levels of self-esteem are associated with higher levels of depression and decreased sleep quality. Moreover, depression also predicts sleep quality. Further, depression serves to mediate the relation between self-esteem and sleep quality. The results suggest that students' self-esteem plays a significant role in the experience of depression and that depression is the primary mechanism through which selfesteem influences sleep. College administrators should consider integrating self-esteem promotion strategies into their campus wide intervention efforts to promote mental health and academic success.

Why do owls have it worse? Mediating role of self‐perceptions in the links between diurnal preference and features of mental health

“…In addition to the impact of self‐liking and self‐competence on mental health, research also shows that they may also be related to cognitive ability and academic achievement (Mar et al, 2006). Moreover, research shows that lower self‐esteem may be a predictor of higher depressiveness and poorer sleep quality (Conti et al, 2014). Therefore, developing these dimensions, for example, through some clinical interventions or via psychosocial skills training, can contribute to improving sleep quality, affective functioning and well‐being as well as supporting other aspects of life and functioning, especially among E‐types.…”

Social media use and mental health in young adults of Greece: A cross-sectional study

“…Women appear to use social media more in order to sustain their existing relationships compared to men ( Muscanell & Guadagno, 2012 ), which has been associated with higher self-esteem ( Wilcox & Stephen, 2013 ). Therefore, female users could exhibit lower depressive symptomatology compared to male, given that self-esteem is negatively related to depressive symptoms ( Conti et al, 2014 ). Additionally, men with increased depressive symptoms have been found to be more susceptible to internet overuse compared to women ( Liang et al, 2016 ), which could also apply to social media use.…”

“…Previous studies have suggested a negative association between depressive symptoms and self-esteem (Conti et al, 2014;Franck et al, 2007). Self-esteem is defined as the subjective way in which individuals perceive their personal value (MacDonald & Leary, 2012).…”