Longitudinal association between low self‐esteem and depression in early adolescents: The role of rejection sensitivity and loneliness

Abstract

Objectives Although the relation between low self‐esteem and depression has been well established, little is known about the possible psychological mechanisms that account for the relation between them. Based on Beck's cognitive theory of depression, the main aim of this study was to explore the notion that rejection sensitivity and loneliness serve as mediators of the relation between low self‐esteem and depression among early adolescents. Design Using a longitudinal design, we evaluated the hypothesized model with a sample of 866 Chinese early adolescents (51% females) between 11 and 15 years old who completed questionnaires on three occasions at 1‐year intervals. Results Structural equation modelling showed that: (1) low self‐esteem at Time 1 positively predicted depression at Time 3; (2) rejection sensitivity at Time 2 partially mediated the relation between low self‐esteem at Time 1 and depression at Time 3; (3) low self‐esteem at Time 1 demonstrated partial indirect effects on depression at Time 3 successively via rejection sensitivity and loneliness at Time 2; and (4) rejection sensitivity predicted an increase in loneliness but not vice versa, and depression accounted for later loneliness, but not for rejection sensitivity. Conclusions The associations between low self‐esteem and depression among early adolescents may be explained by rejection sensitivity and loneliness. These results suggest implications for effective interventions for depression in early adolescents. Practitioner points Low self‐esteem is a risk factor for depression in early adolescents, and rejection sensitivity and loneliness help explain the vulnerability model. Implementing empirically based intervention plans to overcome low self‐esteem may be helpful in efforts to reduce depression in early adolescents. Effective interventions should likely include efforts to decrease rejection sensitivity and loneliness and their effects, such as training to interpret verbal and behavioural cues in social interactions more accurately and to develop more effective social skills to enhance social confidence.

Rapid Systematic Review: The Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness on the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in the Context of COVID-19

“…Importantly, they typically assessed and controlled for confounds and could assess the most plausible direction of causality between loneliness/social isolation and mental health. and Table 3 [61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79] describe the 60 studies that examined the impact of loneliness on mental health. A total of 53 studies stated that they measured the impact of loneliness on mental health.…”

“…61,62,64,65,[67][68][69][70][71][72][74][75][76][77]79,80 Several of these were In all, 12 of the 15 studies found that loneliness is associated with depression and explained a significant amount of the variance in severity of depression symptoms several months to several years later. 61,62,64,65,[67][68][69][70][71][72][74][75][76][77]79,80 Two studies found that loneliness in childhood at age 5 years was not associated with depression several years later, 73,74 although other studies that assessed loneliness during childhood found evidence that it is associated with subsequent depression. 61,64 One large study of adolescents (n ¼ 3,088) found that loneliness was not associated with depression 1 year later.…”

Knowledge of COVID-19 and Its Influence on Mindfulness, Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Psychological Flexibility in the Indian Community

“…The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused much stress and uncertainty in the current times (McCloy, 2020). Both in adults and children, fear about the novel virus, ensuing Sr et al, 2020;Cao et al, 2020;Ebrahim et al, 2020;Moccia et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2020a;Zhou et al, 2020;Zhu S. et al, 2020;Özdin and Bayrak Özdin, 2020). Social distancing is often the cause of feeling isolated, lonely, and sad (Fegert et al, 2020;Hoffart et al, 2020;Loades et al, 2020;Moghanibashi-Mansourieh, 2020).…”

Mental health outcomes of quarantine and isolation for infection prevention: A systematic umbrella review of the global evidence

“…We considered any mental disorders listed in the International Classification of Diseases or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which include depression, anxiety, substance and alcohol use disorders, sleep disorders, and other psychiatric conditions [31,32]. We also included psychological and behavioral conditions, including but not limited to self-esteem, loneliness, and psychological distress, that are integral to mental health and wellbeing [33,34]. The inclusion of conditions was consistent with the WHO definition of health [35], which motivated diseases globally [2,3].…”