Life Stress and Dysphoria: The Role of Self-Esteem and Hopelessness

Abstract

This study evaluated the hypotheses that the relation between life stress (life events and daily hassles) and longitudinal change in dysphoria would be (a) moderated by self-esteem and (b) mediated by longitudinal change in hopelessness. Eighty undergraduates were first assessed on self-esteem, hopelessness, and dysphoria and then reassessed 3 months later on life events, daily hassles, hopelessness, and dysphoria. Residual change in dysphoria was significantly associated with self-esteem, life stress, and a Self-Esteem × Life Stress interaction. However, inconsonant with predictions, the moderating impact of self-esteem was greatest under conditions of low (vs. high) life stress. Moreover, residual change in hopelessness mediated the relations between residual change in dysphoria and both self-esteem and life stress.