Background. Low self-esteem and depression are related to each other. However, there has no clear prospective relationship between them. Low self-esteem is a feeling when a person believes they have lesser self-worth than others in one way or another. Someone who has low self-esteem often withdraws from the social environment, cuts off contact with others; feeling despaired in his loneliness, and falls into depression. Depression arises from the confirmation of the negative self-reflection that causes despair because of the person’s inability to resolve internal conflict.
Method. The method used in this study was literature review by comparing scientific journals, analyzing, summarizing and then drawing a conclusion.
Result. As a result, 18 studies suggested low self-esteem was a cause of depression in the adolescence and young adulthood, while in late adulthood and old age, low self-esteem was a result of depression.
Conclusion. The prospective relationship between low self-esteem and depression was greatly affected by age group and the onset when someone had a low self-esteem. |