The interplay between self-esteem, expectancy, cognitive control, rumination, and the experience of stress: A network analysis

Research suggests that self-esteem, individuals´ expectancies regarding their ability to deal with future stressors and cognitive control are related and participate in the process of stress regulation. In the current study, 286 participants (51 men and 235 women; ranging from 18 to 89 years old; mean age = 27.53, SD = 10.64) completed online questionnaires to assess self-esteem, expectancy, cognitive control (assessed using measures of attentional and anxiety control), perceived stress, rumination, and symptoms of distress. Network analysis was used to obtain a comprehensive, data-driven view on the complex interplay between these variables. Our analysis shows that high self-esteem is related to more self-efficacy (a measure of expectancy). Self-efficacy, in turn, shows a strong association with more attentional and anxiety control, which are related to lower overall perceived stress during the past month. Moreover, higher perceived stress was related to more symptoms of distress via higher scores in rumination. This study is the first to provide a data-driven test of how individuals with low self-esteem and expectancy, and deficits in cognitive control processes may have difficulties in dealing with daily stressful situations.