Summary
This is the last of a series of three papers dealing with the role of self-esteem in the onset of clinical depression. On the basis of a longitudinal population enquiry a comprehensive psychosocial model of depression is developend. It is concluded that self-esteem (primarily in terms of a negative measure) does play a significant role. However, this can be only properly interpreted in the light of the full model. This highlights: 1. the importance of the occurrence of both a negative enviromental factor (negative interaction with children or husband for married or negative interaction with children or lack of a very close tie for single mothers)and a negative psychological factor (low self-esteem or chronic subclinical condition); and 2. how a relatively small group of high risk women in these terms (23% of total at risk based on measures collected well of onset of depression occurring over a 12 month period.
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Brown, G.W., Bifulco, A. & Andrews, B. Self-esteem and depression. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 25, 235–243 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00788644
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00788644