Exploring the Relationship Between Personality Traits and Depressive Disorder: The Mediating Effects of Self-Esteem among Chinese Adolescents

Numerous research investigations have shown the correlation between psychopathology and personality traits, as well as between the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality and self-esteem (SE). However, the relevant research is limited. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between FFM and depression among Chinese adolescents, and to find whether SE acts as a mediator in the relationship. This study recruited 325 adolescents from Jiangsu Province in China. Three self-reported questionnaires were employed to assess their personality traits, depression and SE respectively. Pearson correlation and mediation were applied in data analyses. The results showed that the association between FFM of personality and depression is significantly mediated by SE. High neuroticism was linked to low SE, which in turn correlated with higher levels of depression; higher extraversion, agreeableness, openness and conscientiousness were linked to higher SE, which subsequently corresponded with lower levels of depression. Therefore, future interventions should focus on social and educational training to promote mental health and boost SE.