Implicit Self-Esteem in Adolescents with Parental History of Depression

Abstract

Although low explicit self-esteem has been strongly linked to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as both a symptom of and vulnerability for the disorder, little is known about the relation between implicit self-esteem and MDD. Prior research suggests that individuals with MDD or a history thereof display positive implicit self-esteem similar to or higher than that of controls. The present study examined the relation between implicit self-worth, as measured with an Implicit Association Test (IAT), parental bonding, and explicit self-esteem before and after a negative mood induction in individuals with (n=26) and without (n=21) a family history of MDD. Individuals with a family history of MDD displayed significantly higher implicit self-worth than controls following but not prior to the negative mood induction. Parental bonding and explicit self-esteem were unrelated to the implicit self-worth of either participant group. These findings suggest that increased implicit self-worth may characterize individuals vulnerable to developing MDD. Implications for future research are discussed.