LEVEL AND STABILITY OF SELF-ESTEEM AS PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

In a recent study, Kernis, Grannemann and Mathis (Journal of Personali ty and Social Psychology, 61, 80-84) reported that stability of self-e steem (SE) moderates the relation between Level of SE and depression. Specifically, level of SE predicted depression more strongly in person s with temporally stable SE. We attempted to replicate this finding ac ross three independent data sets (total N = 504). Although level of SE was a strong prospective predictor of depressive symptoms in all thre e studies, in none were significant interactions obtained between leve l and stability of SE in the form suggested by Kernis and his colleagu es. Overall, our results suggest that Kernis et al.'s finding is unrel iable. Given recent theory suggesting that instability in SE (Roberts and Monroe, Clinical Psychology Review, 14, 161-181, 1994) and neuroti cism (Martin, Personality and Individual Differences, 6, 353-365, 1985 ) predispose to depression subsequent to life stressors, these finding s are nor surprising. Data are presented that demonstrate that stable SE and affect measured 'on-line' through daily assessments are, in fac t, associated with lower levels of neuroticism.