A multidimensional model of self-esteem in depression

Although the concept of self-esteem plays a crucial role in current vulnerability models of depression, empirical studies have found that overall level of self-esteem is not a robust predictor of the onset of the disorder. To resolve this discrepancy we propose a multidimensional model of self-esteem in depression. Psychodynamic, cognitive, and social-environmental models each imply that the nature of vulnerable self-esteem is considerably more complex than simply level (i.e., high vs. low self-esteem) and that other dimensions might be more causally important. According to this multidimensional approach, vulnerability includes (a) structural deficits, such as few, rigid, or externally based sources of self-worth; (b) abnormally low self-esteem that is "primed" by either mildly depressed mood, stressful events, or schema-congruent experiences; and (c) temporal instability of self-worth. We review theoretical and empirical evidence relevant to this model.