Self-esteem as a Mediator Between Instrumentality, Gender Role Conflict and Depression in Male Korean High School Students

This study examined the effects of self-esteem as a mediator of the relationship between instrumentality, gender role conflict and depression in 464 Korean high school boys using structural equation modeling. The primary findings were: (a) instrumentality did not directly influence depression, but indirectly did so through the mediational variable of self-esteem, and (b) gender role conflict demonstrated direct and indirect effects on depression through the mediational variable of self-esteem. These results are consistent with the previous findings conducted in the U.S. and support applying these findings to different culture contexts. Implications of these findings for counseling practice with male adolescents and for future research are discussed.