CHILDHOOD EMOTIONAL NEGLECT, SELF-ESTEEM, AND DEPRESSION AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Emerging young adulthood is a developmental stage that is marked by enhanced self-awareness, exploration of identity and elevated sensitivity in terms of emotional aspects and thus young adults are highly susceptible to the psychological effects of early life experiences. Emotional neglect in childhood has progressively been linked to negative psychological consequences, especially on self-esteem and a causal factor of depressive symptoms. This research examined how the relationship between childhood emotional neglect, self-esteem and depression among young adults in Pakistan were related. A sample of 320 participants aged 18-25 years of different universities in Pakistan was recruited using convenience sampling. The patients were given the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Correlation analyses showed pivotal negative correlation between childhood emotional neglect and self esteem, and pivotal positive correlation between childhood emotional neglect and depression. Moreover, the self-esteem was revealed to have a significant negative relationship with depression. Regression findings showed that emotional neglect as a child was a strong predictor of depression and self-esteem with a significant percentage of variance in depressive symptoms being attributed to emotional neglect. Self-esteem was also a key psychological variable that was related to depression. These results emphasize the importance of early emotional experiences in determining the psychological well-being among young adults. The findings show that emotional neglect should be identified and addressed along with indicating the necessity of university-based mental health intervention and awareness initiatives to improve the sense of self-esteem and mitigate depression in young adults.