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Self-statements, locus of control, and depression in predicting self-esteem
V D Philpot1, W B Holliman, S Madonna
1Department of Psychology, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA 71497, USA.
Psychological Reports
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Negative self-statements strongly predict lower self-esteem in college students. This study highlights the impact of thought patterns and locus of control on self-worth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Self-esteem is a crucial aspect of mental well-being.
- Cognitive and behavioral factors are increasingly recognized as significant influences on self-esteem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive power of self-statements (positive and negative), their ratio, locus of control, and depression on self-esteem.
- To examine the interrelationships between these psychological variables.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 145 college students (100 women, 45 men) participated.
- Participants completed the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory-Adult Form, Automatic Thought Questionnaire-Revised, Beck Depression Inventory, and Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale.
- Statistical analyses, including intercorrelations, were performed.
Main Results:
- Significant relationships were found among all examined variables.
- The strongest predictor of self-esteem was the frequency of negative self-statements.
- Locus of control and depression also showed significant associations with self-esteem.
Conclusions:
- The frequency of negative self-statements is a key factor in determining self-esteem levels.
- Cognitive patterns, such as negative self-talk, play a vital role in self-perception.
- Findings support previous research linking cognitive factors to self-esteem and mental health.