Examining the Link Between Friendship Contingent Self-Esteem and the Self-Propagating Cycle of Depression

Research has shown that basing one's self-worth on the quality of one's friendships, termed friendship contingent self-esteem (FCSE), is a risk factor for depressive symptoms (Cambron, Acitelli, & Steinberg, 2010). The current research extends this research by examining the hypothesis that individuals high in FCSE engage in behaviors and cognitions that maintain depressive symptoms. Study 1 showed that negative feedback seeking (NFS) and...