Abstract
This study examined the relationship between self-esteem, interpersonal sensitivity, rumination, and depression in patients of MDD or GAD. the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Interpersonal Sensitivity subscale of Symptom Checklist-90, the Chinese version of the Rumination Response Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item depression scale (PHQ-9) were used to measure 159 diagnosed adults. The study measured depression, self-esteem and interpersonal sensitivity at T1 and rumination and depression at T2 after a 10–14-day interval. The study found that after controlling for depression at T1, age, gender, and measurement time interval, low self-esteem at T1 could impact on depression at T2 through the mediation of reflection at T2, as well as through the chain mediation of interpersonal sensitivity at T1 and rumination at T2. The results indicated that for patients of MDD or GAD with low self-esteem, we could pay attention to intervening with rumination and interpersonal sensitivity, such as rumination-focused cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy.