Open AccessEffects of contingencies of self‐worth and sensitivity to indebtedness on optimistic bias in seeking help for depression
Author(s) -
Umegaki Yusuke
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
japanese psychological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1468-5884
pISSN - 0021-5368
DOI - 10.1111/jpr.12094
Subject(s) - psychology , help seeking , depressive symptoms , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , cognitive bias , multilevel model , social psychology , equity (law) , cognition , developmental psychology , psychiatry , mental health , statistics , mathematics , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
The occurrence of the optimistic bias in seeking help for depressive symptoms has been attributed to the threat‐to‐self and equity theories. The current study tested the hierarchical relationships between contingencies of self‐worth ( CSW ), self‐esteem ( SE ), sensitivity to indebtedness ( SI ), and optimistic bias in seeking formal/informal help for depression. An online questionnaire survey was conducted with Japanese university students ( n = 1000). Results from structural equation modeling analysis revealed the mediating effect of CSW on SE and optimistic bias. SI was positively related to optimistic bias in symptom recognition and informal help‐seeking. The results suggest that both CSW and SI are responsible for the occurrence of optimistic bias in seeking help for depression. Cognitive patterns in recognizing personal and others' depressive symptoms and needs for seeking help were discussed.