The Impact of Unfair Treatment on Depressive Mood: The Moderating Role of Self-Esteem Level and Self-Esteem Instability

Abstract

This research examines the moderating roles of self-esteem level and self-esteem instability in the relationship between perceived unfair treatment and depressive mood. Based on the assumption that unfairness is a threat to one's social standing and self-esteem, the authors proposed that individuals with highly fragile self-esteem (i.e., the combination of unstable and high self-esteem) react more strongly when experiencing unfair treatment. This hypothesis was tested in a real-world setting using cross-sectional and diary data of 101 employees. As expected, unfair treatment was related to depressive mood among individuals with unstable high self-esteem but not among individuals with stable high self-esteem. This pattern of results held for both cross-sectional and diary data. In contrast, unfairness was not related to depressive mood among individuals with unstable low self-esteem.

Lack of reciprocity and strain: Narcissism as a moderator of the association between feeling under-benefited and irritation

“…This finding contradicts the result of a previous study, which found that people high in narcissism report higher interpersonal transgression (e.g., failure to be appreciated adequately) than people low on narcissism (McCullough, Emmons, Kilpatrick, & Mooney, 2003). However, a pattern similar to the one found in the current paper was reported in a study on the effect of perceived unfairness of supervisors' behaviour among employees with high but unstable self-esteem (Meier, Semmer, & Hupfeld, 2009). Similarly to narcissists, people with high but unstable self-esteem have positive self-feelings that are fragile and need continual validation (cf.…”

“…Employees with high but unstable self-esteem did not perceive their supervisor's behaviour to be more unfair than employees with a high and stable self-esteem. However, they reacted most strongly to unfair treatment (Meier et al, 2009). Thus, the effect of narcissism or a high but unstable self-esteem seems to lie in a higher vulnerability to an imbalance or unfairness, rather than in a general feeling of not being treated adequately.…”

An experience sampling investigation of workplace interactions, affective states, and employee well‐being

“…As previously mentioned, research has supported a link between interpersonal workplace interactions and subsequent affective states (e.g., Bono, Foldes, Vinson, & Muros, 2007; Meier et al, 2009; Tschan, Rochat, & Zapf, 2005; Vittengl & Holt, 1998; Xanthopoulou et al, 2009). In terms of the main effects of workplace interactions on affective states, self‐determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) provides one possible explanation for this link.…”

“…For example, Xanthopoulou, Bakker, Demerouti, and Schaufeli (2009) reported that supervisory coaching added to an employee's reserve of job resources and increased employee engagement and performance. In addition, Meier, Semmer, and Hupfeld (2009) found that the experience of unfair treatment by one's supervisor was related to subsequent depressive mood for individuals with an unstable high self‐esteem. Overall, research has begun to show that interpersonal interactions are an important part of employees' daily lives.…”

Interpersonal discrimination and depressive symptomatology: examination of several personality-related characteristics as potential confounders in a racial/ethnic heterogeneous adult sample

“…While there is debate in the literature on the causal direction of the discrimination-self-esteem association [44], it may be that some groups of individuals who experience interpersonal discrimination internalize some of the negative social devaluation of their group leading to lowered self-esteem [45] (and other poor mental health outcomes [46-49]), suggesting a mediating role. On the other hand, other study findings suggest that, similar to optimism, higher self-esteem is associated with lower likelihoods of perceiving interpersonal discrimination [50] suggesting a confounding role.…”