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Self-esteem lability and depression in college students: A search for sociotropic and autonomous patterns

This study examined the hypothesis that an overreliance on external sources of self-esteem is associated with depression and depression-proneness. Self-esteem and daily events were assessed among 206 male and female college students for 30 consecutive days. Subjects were identified as Currently Depressed, Past Depressed (depression-prone), or Never Depressed from their scores on a self-report inventory for depression and classified on personal style as either Sociotropic or Autonomous from their scores on the Personal Style Inventory (Robins, Luten, and Ladd, 1987). Based on theories of self-esteem vulnerability in depression, Currently Depressed and Past Depressed subjects were predicted to show more self-esteem lability (day-to-day event-related variability in self-esteem) than Never Depressed subjects. A specific vulnerability hypothesis was also tested wherein Sociotropic and Autonomous depressives were predicted to show high lability to social and achievement events, respectively. / Self-esteem lability was found to be elevated in Current and Past Depressives relative to Never Depressed subjects. Findings were unsupportive for the specific vulnerability hypothesis. The findings are discussed regarding their implications for theory, measurement, and future research. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-11, Section: B, page: 5969. / Major Professor: Jack E. Hokanson. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76806
ContributorsButler, Andrew Carleton., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format175 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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