Depression, self-esteem, and the absence of self-protective attributional biases.

Tennen, Howard, Herzberger, Sharon·1987·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037//0022-3514.52.1.72

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated a relation between depression and attributional style. In the present study we evaluated the extent to which self-esteem may be an important determinant of attributional style. Subjects completed measures of self-esteem, depression, and anxiety and responded to the Attributional Style Questionnaire. Maximum R2 analyses revealed that for significant one-variable and multivariable regression models, self-esteem accounted for the variation in attributional style on the majority of outcome measures. Depression and anxiety added little beyond the contribution of self-esteem. These findings were consistent for both positive and negative events. In addition, self-esteem accounted for variation in attributional evenhandedness. Results are discussed in terms of the role of self-esteem maintenance in attributional style.

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Cited by (21)

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    Crocker, Jennifer, Major, Brenda · 1989 · Psychological Review
  2. A Collective Self-Esteem Scale: Self-Evaluation of One’s Social Identity
    Luhtanen, Riia, Crocker, Jennifer · 1992 · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
  3. Relation of threatened egotism to violence and aggression: The dark side of high self-esteem.
    Baumeister, Roy F., Smart, Laura, Boden, Joseph M. · 1996 · Psychological Review
  4. Academic Self-Concept and Self-Efficacy: How Different Are They Really?
    Bong, Mimi, Skaalvik, Einar M. · 2003 · Educational Psychology Review
  5. Development and validation of a scale for measuring state self-esteem.
    Heatherton, Todd F., Polivy, Janet · 1991 · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

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Cite CoChat for the checks on this page, and the paper for its own findings.

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Depression, self-esteem, and the absence of self-protective attributional biases. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1037//0022-3514.52.1.72
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Tennen, H., & Herzberger, S. (1987). Depression, self-esteem, and the absence of self-protective attributional biases. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.52.1.72

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