Injury and Depression: The Mediating Effects of Self-Concept

Abstract

This study further specifies the relationship between injury, self-conceptions, and depression. With the use of path analysis, we look at the direct and indirect effects of pain and work limitation associated with a job-related injury on self-efficacy, self-esteem and depression for a sample of injured workers (N = 1,037). As expected, we found that self-efficacy and self-esteem are negatively associated with depression, while work limitation and pain are positively associated with depression. We also found that work limitation has additional indirect effects on depression through its effect on self-efficacy and self-esteem. Pain has an additional indirect effect on depression via its effect on self-efficacy and work limitation. These findings support our expectation that self-concept significantly mediates the relationship between physical injury and depression.

Work self-efficacy of individuals injured on the job

“…The results suggests that individuals with a high level of work self-efficacy, also presented with a high level of coping with pain self-efficacy, a high level of physical function selfefficacy, a high level of coping with symptoms self-efficacy, and that they were more likely to return to work following injury. These conclusions are consistent with the results of Seff, Gecas, & Ray (1992) who reported a significant correlation between high self-efficacy and self-esteem. Similarly, Lackner, Carosell, & Feuerstein (1996) concluded that participants with higher levels of physical function self-efficacy eve ~e significantly greater physical function self-efficacy than participants with lower levels of physical function self-efficacy.…”

“…These results were supported by Seff, Gecas, and Ray (1992) who reported a significant correlation between high self-efficacy and self-esteem; both were negatively related to depression. Likewise, Lackner, Carosell, and Feuerstein (1996) concluded that participants with higher levels of physical function self-efficacy revealed significantly greater physical function than participants with lower physical function selfefficacy.…”

“…The final eight studies (Arnstein, 2000;Haldorsen, Kronholm, Skouen, & Ursin, 1998;Johansson & Lindberg, 2000;Lackner, Carosell, & Feuerstein, 1996;Levin, Lofland, Cassisi, Poreh, & Blonsky, 1996;Lin & Ward, 1996;Seff, Gecas, & Ray, 1992;Waldrop, Lightsey, Ethington, Woemmel, & Coke, 2001) examining self-efficacy and impairment are the most closely related to the topic of work self-efficacy. The substantive findings include the results of Levin, Lofland, Cassisi, Poreh, and Blonsky (1996) who found a significant negative relationship between high self-efficacy and low back pain.…”

Divorce and the Multidimensionality of Men and Women’s Mental Health: The Role of Social-Relational and Socio-Economic Conditions

“…Self-esteem refers to an individual's feelings of moral value or worth, or to the extent to which people hold themselves in high or low regard (Seff et al 1992). It was measured by two items: 'In general, I feel very positive about myself', adopted from the self-acceptance scale (reversed scores; Ryff and Singer 1998), and 'At times I feel as if I am a failure', adopted from the Rosenberg (1965) self-esteem scale.…”

“…Competence refers to an individual's sense of effectiveness, mastery, or self-efficacy in dealing with the environment, that is, the ability or the skill one has to accomplish tasks (Seff et al 1992) Similarly, autonomy refers to feelings of achievement and control, with the absence of physical barriers and power relations (McBride et al 2005). It was measured by the item 'I feel free to decide how to live my life', adopted from Ryan and Deci's (2001) autonomy scale, with a range of 1 (agree strongly) to 5 (disagree strongly).…”