自己の多面性と抑うつの関連に対するアイデンティティの間接効果の検討

This study investigated the hypothesis that self-complexity affects depression by mediating the person’s sense of identity. University students (n ＝168) participated in this study and completed a questionnaire. The results of mediation analyses indicated that a sense of identity partially mediated the relationship between self-complexity and depression. A sense of identity comprises the following four factors: (1) identity of self-sameness and its continuity, (2) self-identity, (3) interpersonal identity, and (4) psychosocial identity. Covariance structural analysis was used to investigate the mediation effect of the sense of identity on self-complexity and depression in more detail. The results of the analysis revealed that self-complexity is negatively related to self-sameness and its continuity as well as interpersonal identity. Further, self-sameness and its continuity and self-identity are negatively related to depression. There was no relation between self-complexity and psychosocial identity. It is considered that a person with self-complexity directly confuses it with the sense of core identity (self-sameness and its continuity and interpersonal identity) and indirectly confuses it with the sense of self-identity; as a result, it causes depression.