Role of discrepancy between explicit and implicit self-esteem in prediction of depression symptoms in students of University

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of discrepancy between explicit and implicit self-esteem, with depression symptoms. The research method was descriptive and the statistical population was all of the undergraduate students at Farhangian University of Kurdistan in the academic year 2018-2019 with the quantity of 956 students. Among them, using systematic random sampling, 274 subjects were randomly selected and responded to Beck, Steer & Brown Depression Inventory (1996), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965), and Name Initial Preferences Task Nuttin (1987). The data of 253 subjects were analyzed using hierarchical multivariate regression analysis. The results showed that multivariate correlation coefficient for predictor variable of explicit self-esteem was -0.63 which is significant at (P <0.001, β= 0.58), but this prediction does not significant for implicit self-esteem. also, multivariate correlation coefficient for direction and magnitude of discrepancy between explicit and implicit self-esteem with depression symptoms was 0.93 which is significant at (P <0.001, β= 0.51). Based on these findings, those who have damaged self-esteem; show a higher level of depression symptoms and those with defense self-esteem; show a lower level of depression symptoms.