The influence of Self-talk on Depression and Self-Esteem scores in Undergraduate Students

As a result of increased emphasis being placed on the alarmingly ubiquitous mental-health-related diagnoses in Irish third-level institutions, the current study aimed to provide useful aids to the population (Undergraduate Students) to negate negative health outcomes. This was achieved by investigating the influence of negative self talk on depressive symptomology and ones' self-esteem. Twenty-six participants took part in a 2-week self intervention, while twenty-one participants were placed in a control group. The Mixed 2x2 factorial design of the study employed a within-participant repeated measure of time (Baseline and Post) against groups (Intervention and Control) to measure the interaction effect on the dependent variables of depression, and self-esteem scores. While time significantly improved the outcome of both dependent variables, the intervention itself did not. Pearson’s correlations tests showed that higher engagements of self-talk categorised as Self-Criticism, Self-Management and Social Assessment were all associated with higher levels of depressive symptomology, and lower levels of Self-Esteem, while engagements in Self Reinforcement were associated with the inverse. These findings highlight the salience of the impact negative interactions with ourselves have on our mental wellbeing. Future research should continue to develop materials in aiding individuals to engage in cognitive restructuring techniques to reduce engagements of self-criticism, as well as to pilot self-talk interventions with psychical supports also.
Keywords: self-talk, depression, self-esteem, undergraduate students, mental health, self-criticism and Self-Talk Scale.