EXAMINING THE LINK BETWEEN FRIENDSHIP CONTINGENT SELF-ESTEEM AND THE SELF-PROPAGATING CYCLE OF DEPRESSION

Research has shown that basing one's self-worth on the quality of one's friendships, termed friendship contingent self-esteem (FCSE), is a risk factor for depressive symptoms (Cambron, Acitelli, & Steinberg, 2010). The current research extends this research by examining the hypothesis that individuals high in FCSE engage in behaviors and cognitions that maintain depressive symptoms. Study 1 showed that negative feedback seeking (NFS) and rumination mediated the relation between FCSE and depressive symptoms. Study 2, utilizing a daily diary study methodology, supported the findings of Study 1, and showed that the relation between FCSE and daily depressive symptoms was partially mediated by excessive reassurance seeking (ERS), NFS, and rumination over the course of three weeks. Findings imply that individuals whose self-esteem is determined by their friendship quality engage in maladaptive interpersonal behaviors that ultimately lead to experiencing greater depressive symptoms. Implications for future research are discussed.