The Long-term Effects of Self-Esteem on Depression: The Roles of Alcohol and Substance Use During Young Adulthood

Kiwoong Park, Tse Chuan Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth 1979, this study examines the roles of alcohol and substance use as mediators in the mechanism between self-esteem and depression, and investigates whether the mechanism works for both men and women. Results demonstrate that alcohol and substance use during young adulthood mediates the effect of self-esteem on depression among men. Furthermore, self-esteem during young adulthood remains a determinant of high depression in middle adulthood. However, we did not find evidence to support that same mechanism among women. Our findings provide insight into how self-esteem affects depression over the transition from young to middle adulthood, and elucidate potential gendered responsivity to low self-esteem.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)429-446
Number of pages18
JournalSociological Quarterly
Volume58
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 3 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alcohol and substance use
  • depression
  • long-term effect
  • mediation analysis
  • self-esteem

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science

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