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Does Self-Esteem Mediate the Relationship between Loneliness and Depression among Malaysian Teenagers?

Ikechukwu Uba, Siti Nor Yaacob, Rumaya Juhari, and Mansor Abu Talib

Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Volume 20, Issue 1, March 2012

Keywords: Self-esteem, loneliness, teenagers, depression

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The current study examined the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between loneliness anddepression among teenagers. The participants of the study were 242 teenagers (119 males and 123 females)aged 13 to16 years, from selected secondary schools in the central zone (Selangor) of Malaysia (mean age= 14.67 years; SD = 1.27). Teenage depression was measured using Children Depression Inventory, whileloneliness was measured using the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, and self esteem was measured using theRosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The study discovered that self-esteem had negative and medium correlationwith loneliness (r = -.380, p <.01) and depression (r = -.497, p <.01). The study further found a positive andmedium correlation between loneliness and depression (r = .493, p <.01). Self-esteem was found to be boththe unique predictor of depression and a partial mediator of the relationship between loneliness and depression.Thus, the findings of the study filled the gap in the existing literature on the relationship between loneliness anddepression. Recommendations of the study centre on the need for counsellors and psychologists to educateparents on the need to aid the development of self-esteem among their teens.

ISSN 0128-7702

e-ISSN 2231-8534

Article ID

JSSH-0278-2010

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