Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem

Adolescence is a developmental phase marked by a high risk of depressive symptoms. The Diathesis-Stress Model of Depression proposed that different types of coping strategy can determine depression level in individuals differently. It was found that low self-esteem is linked with greater depressive...

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Main Authors: Chin, Wen Cong, Wu, Shin Ling *, Tan, Soon Aun
Format: Article
Published: Springer 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/1500/
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author Chin, Wen Cong
Wu, Shin Ling *
Tan, Soon Aun
author_facet Chin, Wen Cong
Wu, Shin Ling *
Tan, Soon Aun
author_sort Chin, Wen Cong
building SU Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Adolescence is a developmental phase marked by a high risk of depressive symptoms. The Diathesis-Stress Model of Depression proposed that different types of coping strategy can determine depression level in individuals differently. It was found that low self-esteem is linked with greater depressive symptoms among adolescents. Although past studies have discovered the effects of problem-focused coping on depression, there are limited studies examining the underlying mechanism among Malaysian adolescents. Thus, the present study investigated the intervening role of self-esteem on the association between problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents. A total of 852 secondary school students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were recruited through multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants filled out self-reported questionnaires on depression, self-esteem, and problem-focused coping. SPSS macro was used to analyze the mediation model. The findings showed both self-esteem and problem-focused coping negatively correlated with adolescents’ depression. Self-esteem in turn partially mediated the association between problem-focused coping and adolescents’ depression. Thus, it is recommended that intervention on reducing depressive symptoms should focus on providing adolescents with the skills to use problem-focused coping. Workshops could be conducted to heighten adolescents’ self-esteem through the help of teachers, parents and school counselors in reducing depressive symptoms among adolescents
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spelling sunway-15002020-11-04T09:16:37Z http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/1500/ Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem Chin, Wen Cong Wu, Shin Ling * Tan, Soon Aun BF Psychology Adolescence is a developmental phase marked by a high risk of depressive symptoms. The Diathesis-Stress Model of Depression proposed that different types of coping strategy can determine depression level in individuals differently. It was found that low self-esteem is linked with greater depressive symptoms among adolescents. Although past studies have discovered the effects of problem-focused coping on depression, there are limited studies examining the underlying mechanism among Malaysian adolescents. Thus, the present study investigated the intervening role of self-esteem on the association between problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents. A total of 852 secondary school students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were recruited through multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants filled out self-reported questionnaires on depression, self-esteem, and problem-focused coping. SPSS macro was used to analyze the mediation model. The findings showed both self-esteem and problem-focused coping negatively correlated with adolescents’ depression. Self-esteem in turn partially mediated the association between problem-focused coping and adolescents’ depression. Thus, it is recommended that intervention on reducing depressive symptoms should focus on providing adolescents with the skills to use problem-focused coping. Workshops could be conducted to heighten adolescents’ self-esteem through the help of teachers, parents and school counselors in reducing depressive symptoms among adolescents Springer 2019-11-09 Article PeerReviewed Chin, Wen Cong and Wu, Shin Ling * and Tan, Soon Aun (2019) Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem. Current Psychology. ISSN 1046-1310 http://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00522-4 doi:10.1007/s12144-019-00522-4
spellingShingle BF Psychology
Chin, Wen Cong
Wu, Shin Ling *
Tan, Soon Aun
Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem
title Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem
title_full Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem
title_fullStr Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem
title_full_unstemmed Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem
title_short Problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: Mediating effect of self-esteem
title_sort problem-focused coping and depression among adolescents: mediating effect of self-esteem
topic BF Psychology
url http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/1500/
http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/1500/
http://eprints.sunway.edu.my/1500/