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

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.

Practitioner points: To date, this is the first study exploring the pathways from positive/negative life events to depressive symptoms. The relationship between positive life experiences and depressive symptoms was fully mediated by self-esteem. Strengthening self-esteem in therapy might lower the vulnerability for depression.