The Impact of Self-esteem on Depression in Medical College Students

Background: Self-esteem reflects one’s sense of self-worth, while depression is a serious mental health condition that transcends regular mood fluctuations, affecting all life aspects, including relationships and performance in school and work. The present study aims to elucidate the relationship between self-esteem and depression among medical college students. Materials and Methods: A sample of 101 students, comprising 50 males and 51 females aged 18–22 years, was randomly selected from various medical colleges. Data collection was facilitated through Google Forms, employing the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965) and the Beck Depression Inventory to assess self-esteem and depression levels, respectively. The analysis involved t-tests to evaluate gender differences in self-esteem and depression, and the Pearson Correlation Coefficient to explore the relationship between these variables. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 25 software. Results: The study found a moderate negative correlation between self-esteem and depression (r = –0.685). No significant gender differences were observed in mean self-esteem scores (males: 19.96, females: 19.75) or mean depression scores (males: 8.24, females: 9.47). Conclusion: The findings suggest a moderate negative correlation between self-esteem and depression among medical college students, indicating that higher self-esteem is associated with lower levels of depression. There were no significant differences in self-esteem and depression between male and female students. These insights highlight the importance of addressing self-esteem in efforts to mitigate depression in this population.