A MULTIDIMENSIONAL MODEL OF SELF-ESTEEM IN DEPRESSION

Although the concept of self-esteem plays a crucial role in current vu lnerability models of depression, empirical studies have found that ov erall level of self-esteem is not a robust predictor of the onset of t he disorder. To resolve this discrepancy we propose a multidimensional model of self-esteem in depression. Psychodynamic, cognitive, and soc ial-environmental models each imply that the nature of vulnerable self -esteem is considerably more complex than simply level (i. e., high vs . low self-esteem) and that other dimensions might be more causally im portant. According to this multidimensional approach, vulnerability in cludes (a) structural deficits, such as few, rigid, or externally base d sources of self-worth; (b) abnormally low self-esteem that is ''prim ed' by either mildly depressed mood, stressful events, or schema-congr uent experiences; and (c) temporal instability of self-worth. We revie w theoretical and empirical evidence relevant to this model.