The exploration of implicit aspects of self-esteem in vulnerability – stress models of depression

Abstract

Research investigating vulnerable self-esteem as a risk factor for depression has largely relied on self-report measures, which are susceptible to self-presentational biases and neglect individuals' automatic, nonconscious self-attitudes. Accordingly, the current study incorporated implicit self-esteem techniques, along with traditional self-report measures, into a longitudinal investigation of depressive vulnerability. Findings revealed that in contrast to the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Initials-Preference Task, the self – other Implicit Association Test was the only self-esteem measure to yield the hypothesized three-way interaction with cognitive risk and negative events in predicting depressive symptoms over time. Specifically, for individuals at high cognitive risk for depression, the effects of life stress on depressive symptoms were especially pernicious for those demonstrating lower self – other Implicit Association Test scores.

Notes

1. In order to obtain a sufficient sample of high-risk participants that were relatively nondepressed at Time 1, a more inclusive sample was recruited (those scoring in the top third on both the DAS and the CSQ), as compared to the original CVD project, which included the top quartile on both measures.