Hope,social support,and depression among Hong Kong youth: personal and relational self-esteem as mediators |
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| Authors: | Hongfei Du Ronnel B. King Samuel K. W. Chu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macao, China;2. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong, Hong Kong;3. Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong |
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| Abstract: | Previous studies have shown that depression is negatively associated with hope and social support. However, little research has been undertaken to investigate the theoretical mechanisms underlying the connections among hope, social support, and depression. This study examined how two types of self-esteem (personal and relational) would mediate the relationship of hope and social support to depression among 384 Hong Kong adolescents (age: 12–18 years; M = 14, SD = 1.19). Participants reported their levels of hope, social support, personal self-esteem, relational self-esteem, and depressive mood. Results of the path analysis showed that both personal and relational self-esteem mediated the associations of hope and social support with depression. Hope and social support were associated with higher levels of personal and relational self-esteem, which were in turn related to decreased levels of depression. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. |
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| Keywords: | Hope social support personal self-esteem relational self-esteem depression |
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