PhD Defence Mary Rose Postma

Keywords: Self-esteem, ecological sampling method (ESM), psychotic experiences, realist evaluation
 

"Working your way through self-esteem"

This dissertation aims to gain a better understanding of self-esteem in the context of psychopathology and mental health. Experiencing adverse childhood events is identified as a risk factor for developing mental health disorders later in life. Negative self-esteem is considered a putative mechanism in this process and may contribute to the onset and perpetuation of psychopathology. This dissertation presents research on self-esteem and psychotic experiences in daily life, revealing an association between self-esteem and psychotic experiences.

Offering a transdiagnostic intervention targeting self-esteem could potentially contribute to the prevention of the development of psychopathology. This dissertation describes such an intervention focusing on self-esteem provided to young people in their daily lives delivered as a form of guided self-help through a smartphone application. Finally, attention is given to an evaluation of this intervention.

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