Self-esteem moderates the associations between body-related self-conscious emotions and depressive symptoms. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brunet, Jennifer; Pila, Eva; Solomon-Krakus, Shauna; Sabiston, Catherine M; O'Loughlin, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 24:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 833
• Page End: 843
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: body guilt -- body shame -- depressive symptoms -- moderation analysis -- young adults; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105316683786
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

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.