Self-esteem moderates the associations between body-related self-conscious emotions and depressive symptoms

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to describe the cross-sectional associations between body-related self-conscious emotions and depressive symptoms in young adults and examine self-esteem as a moderator of these associations. Data from a population-based sample of 811 young adults were analyzed using hierarchical multivariate linear regression analysis. Body-related shame ( β = .26) and guilt ( β = .25) were positively related to frequency of depressive symptoms. Self-esteem was negatively related to frequency of depressive symptoms ( β = -.46). Self-esteem moderated the association between body-related guilt and frequency of depressive symptoms. These findings suggest promoting self-esteem may help to reduce the negative effects of body-related guilt on depressive symptoms.

Psychometric properties of the body and appearance self-conscious emotions scale in Brazilian adolescents

“…In line with past research (Alcaraz-Ibáñez and Sicilia, 2018; Castonguay et al, 2014), the results of both zero-order and partial correlational analyses supported the convergent validity of the BASES. These results suggest that the associations found between body and appearance self-conscious emotions and several well-being and ill-being related outcomes in adults (Alcaraz-Ibáñez and Sicilia, 2018; Brunet et al, 2019; Castonguay et al, 2014) may also occur in the adolescent population. The low magnitude of the observed relationships between guilt residuals (i.e.…”

“…Based on this evidence, and taking into account the potentially detrimental health-related outcomes derived from shame experienced in the body and appearance domain (e.g. depression, Brunet et al, 2019; or disordered eating, Jackson et al, 2015), educators should be particularly vigilant about the psychological state of their overweight and obese students (particularly girls) as well as preventing these individuals being teased about their weight (Haines et al, 2007).…”

“…Consistent with the PMSCE postulates, research examining the empirical tenability of the PMSCE has shown that guilt and shame derived from body and appearance is positively related to depression (Brunet et al, 2019; Castonguay et al, 2014), social physique anxiety and negative affect while negatively related to positive affect (Alcaraz-Ibáñez and Sicilia, 2018; Castonguay et al, 2014) and self-esteem (Brunet et al, 2019; Castonguay et al, 2014). Meanwhile, authentic and hubristic pride have been positively related to positive affect (Alcaraz-Ibáñez and Sicilia, 2018; Castonguay et al, 2014) and self-esteem (Castonguay et al, 2014), while negatively related to social physique anxiety (Alcaraz-Ibáñez and Sicilia, 2018; Castonguay et al, 2014) and depression (Castonguay et al, 2014).…”

Human needs in COVID-19 isolation

“…Low self-esteem also creates a vulnerability to depression (Sowislo and Orth, 2013) and to drinking alcohol (Hull and Young, 1983) – if affordable. Self-esteem moderates the associations between body-related self-conscious emotions and depressive symptoms (Brunet et al, 2019). Self-esteem also appears to be an important antecedent of the development of self-compassion (Donald et al, 2018).…”

Moderating Role of Self-Esteem Between Perceived Organizational Support and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In fact, self-esteem can also serve as a moderator to moderate the strength of the relationship between two variables. Self-esteem could reduce the positive correlation between body-related guilt and the frequency of depressive symptoms among people with higher self-esteem (Brunet et al, 2019). Higher self-esteem might attenuate the effect of stressful life events on non-suicidal self-injury and depression for left-behind children (Lan et al, 2019).…”