Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of self-esteem on academic motivation, and the mediating effect of depression in dental hygiene students. Methods : A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 401 dental hygiene students for 2 weeks in June, 2014 in Ulsan and Daegu. The data were analyzed by a descriptive analyses, Pearson correlation, multiple regression analysis and Sobel test. Results : Self-esteem had a significant influence on academic motivation and self-esteem had a significant influence on depression in the dental hygiene students. Conclusions : Depression had a partial mediation effect on the self-esteem and academic motivation.