Orth Ulrich, Robins Richard W, Meier Laurenz L
Department of Psychology, University of California.
J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009 Aug;97(2):307-21. doi: 10.1037/a0015645.
Diathesis-stress models of depression suggest that low self-esteem and stressful events jointly influence the development of depressive affect. More specifically, the self-esteem buffering hypothesis states that, in the face of challenging life circumstances, individuals with low self-esteem are prone to depression because they lack sufficient coping resources, whereas those with high self-esteem are able to cope effectively and consequently avoid spiraling downward into depression. The authors used data from 3 longitudinal studies of adolescents and young adults, who were assessed 4 times over a 3-year period (Study 1; N = 359), 3 times over a 6-week period (Study 2; N = 249), and 4 times over a 6-year period (Study 3; N = 2,403). In all 3 studies, low self-esteem and stressful events independently predicted subsequent depression but did not interact in the prediction. Thus, the results did not support the self-esteem buffering hypothesis but suggest that low self-esteem and stressful events operate as independent risk factors for depression. In addition, the authors found evidence in all 3 studies that depression, but not low self-esteem, is reciprocally related to stressful events, suggesting that individuals high in depression are more inclined to subsequently experience stressful events.
抑郁症的素质-应激模型表明，低自尊和应激事件共同影响抑郁情绪的发展。更具体地说，自尊缓冲假说指出，面对具有挑战性的生活环境时，低自尊个体容易患上抑郁症，因为他们缺乏足够的应对资源，而高自尊个体能够有效应对，从而避免陷入抑郁状态。作者使用了来自3项针对青少年和年轻人的纵向研究的数据，这些研究对象在3年时间里接受了4次评估（研究1；N = 359），在6周时间里接受了3次评估（研究2；N = 249），以及在6年时间里接受了4次评估（研究3；N = 2403）。在所有3项研究中，低自尊和应激事件均独立预测了随后的抑郁症，但在预测中并未产生交互作用。因此，研究结果不支持自尊缓冲假说，而是表明低自尊和应激事件是抑郁症的独立风险因素。此外，作者在所有3项研究中都发现了证据，表明抑郁症（而非低自尊）与应激事件存在相互关系，这表明抑郁症程度高的个体随后更倾向于经历应激事件。
