Longitudinal association between low self‐esteem and depression in early adolescents: The role of rejection sensitivity and loneliness

Low self-esteem is a risk factor for depression in early adolescents, and rejection sensitivity and loneliness help explain the vulnerability model. Implementing empirically based intervention plans to overcome low self-esteem may be helpful in efforts to reduce depression in early adolescents. Effective interventions should likely include efforts to decrease rejection sensitivity and loneliness and their effects, such as training to interpret verbal and behavioural cues in social interactions more accurately and to develop more effective social skills to enhance social confidence.