SELF-ESTEEM AND DEPRESSION AMONG VIETNAMESE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Research and theories on gender differences in self-esteem and depression as well as the relationship between self-esteem and depression play an important role in the field of psychology. In the current study, we explore these two issues with Vietnamese university students. The levels of self-esteem and depression were assessed with a sample of 859 university students drawn from three universities in central Vietnam. The results showed that Vietnamese university students have moderate self-esteem and most do not suffer from depression. As expected, the male students reported significantly higher self-esteem than theirfemale fellows; however, the female students reported higher levels of depression than the male ones. The results also revealed that self-esteem was negatively correlated with depression. The research contributes to the understanding of the gender differences between the two mental health factors and the relationship between them among Vietnamese university students. These findings are important to the development of intervention strategies that help improve self-esteem and prevent depression in university students.