GLOS Educatief Depression Scientific Articles

Self-image in early adolescence influences depressive symptoms

Published Dec 02, 2019

A negative self-image in early adolescence can cause the development of depressive symptoms later in life, such as low mood, loss of pleasure and feelings of hopelessness. This is shown by research on which Maurits Masselink will receive his PhD on 4 December at the University of Groningen.

Self-image in early adolescence influences depressive symptoms

In his dissertation, Masselink investigated the relationship between self-image and depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults. He examined whether the motivation to avoid negative stimuli, the motivation to approach positive stimuli, together with social factors (that is, social contact, social problems and social support), are part of the underlying mechanism explaining the relationship between self-image and depressive symptoms. He investigated this mechanism over different timescales, using studies examining the relationship over several years, as well as studies examining the relationship in daily life through questionnaires on smartphones.

The results show that low self-esteem in early adolescence may be a minor vulnerability for developing depressive symptoms in late adolescence and early adulthood. Masselink also found that low self-esteem is associated with avoidance and social problems, and that these two factors predict depressive symptoms. Regarding relationships throughout the day, he found that low self-esteem at a given moment is associated with more low mood, fewer social contacts and more avoidance. No clear evidence was found that self-esteem, avoidance, social factors and low mood meaningfully influence one another from moment to moment during the day.

An important focus of the dissertation is also on methodological improvements and improving the scientific process by applying Open Science principles. These principles aim to increase the reliability, transparency, reproducibility and replicability of research.

CV Maurits Masselink

Maurits Masselink (1989) studied Social & Health Psychology at Utrecht University. His doctoral research was conducted under the supervision of Professor Tineke Oldehinkel in the Department of Psychiatry at the Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation of the University Medical Center Groningen. The title of his dissertation is: ‘Despicable me. Self-esteem and depressive symptoms among adolescents and young adults’.

Download the dissertation here.

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