The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Relationship Between Hope and Subjective Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively influenced individuals' physical and mental health, especially for students who have been experiencing and adapting to a different mode of learning. Although research has identified the adverse effects of COVID-19 on subjective wellbeing, it has yet to provide insights into how it might be protected. Previous studies have shown that self-esteem and hope could play an important role in maintaining one's mental health under unfavourable situations. However, the understanding of the mechanism among these factors is limited. Based on the notion of Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory, hopeful people tend to evaluate themselves positively, which further elicits more positive thinking and satisfaction. Therefore, we hypothesised that hope would be associated with subjective wellbeing through enhancing self-esteem.

This study examines the relationship between hope, self-esteem and subjective well-being (life satisfaction, and positive affect). Specifically, the potential mediating role of self-esteem in association with hope and subjective well-being in Chinese university students is investigated. Three hundred and fifteen university students participated in the study. Two hundred and eleven were female (67%), and the average age was 22.08 (SD = 2.74). Target measures were collected in a self-administered questionnaire using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Dispositional Hope Scale, Positive Subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Satisfaction with Life Scale.

Pearson correlation analysis revealed that hope, self-esteem, and subjective well-being variables were significantly positively associated. Bootstrap analyses with a 10,000 sampling rate and 95% confidence interval were conducted to examine the mediating role of self-esteem in the association between hope and subjective well being. Results indicated that self-esteem partially mediated the effects of hope on life satisfaction, and positive affect. These findings supported our hypothesis and extended the understanding of how individuals' hopeful thinking contributes to their subjective well being, by boosting positive attitudes toward themselves, especially during a time of great suffering. Practitioners and educators are suggested to strengthen students' hope and self-esteem. These may help sustain university students' mental health, and prepare them for coping with the challenges during hard times and in the postpandemic world.