Psychological Dynamics Among Bankers in Bangladesh: Exploring the Interrelationship of Self-esteem, Cognitive Distortion, and Depression

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the relationship between self-esteem, cognitive distortion, and depression among bankers in Bangladesh. A sample of 200 respondents (120 male, 80 female) participated in the study, completing questionnaires including background characteristics, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES), the Dhaka University Cognitive Distortion Scale (DUCDS), and the depression scale (DS). This study explores the associations among self-esteem, depression, and cognitive distortion and examines the influence of monthly income and gender on these variables. Correlation analysis reveals that self-esteem is negatively correlated with both depression (r = -0.220, p < 0.01) and cognitive distortion (r = -0.280, p < 0.01), while depression is positively correlated with cognitive distortion (r = 0.633, p < 0.01). Gender differences reveal higher self-esteem among males and higher levels of depression and cognitive distortion among females. Income analysis shows no significant difference in self-esteem across income levels, while higher income is associated with lower depression (p < .001) and cognitive distortion (p < .05). These findings underscore the complex interactions among psychological variables in the banking sector, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to mitigate depression and cognitive distortions among bankers in Bangladesh and potentially in similar international contexts.