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The mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between hope and life satisfaction among university students during a global health crisis

Stephen Cheong Yu Chan, Qi Lu Huang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

38 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Background and Aims: The worldwide health emergency sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply shaken educational environments, posing unprecedented challenges to university students’ well-being. While individual links between self-esteem, hope, and well-being are established, their combined impacts during crises remain underexplored. Our study addresses this gap by investigating the interplay among hope, self-esteem, and life satisfaction within the context of university students navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Methods: Conducting an online cross-sectional self-administered survey during Hong Kong's third pandemic wave, we measured hope, self-esteem, and life satisfaction using validated scales. Three hundred and fifteen university students (211 females; mean age = 22.08; SD = 2.74) participated.

Results: Through multiple regression and mediation analyses, our findings indicate that university students with elevated hope and self-esteem scored higher on life satisfaction measures. Specifically, our analysis revealed that self-esteem may serve as a partial mediator in the relationship between hope and life satisfaction, highlighting how heightened hope indirectly enhances life satisfaction by strengthening self-esteem.

Conclusion: This study reveals intricate relationships among hope, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in university students, particularly during external adversities like the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications extend to mental health interventions, emphasizing the potential benefits of cultivating hope and self-esteem to enhance life satisfaction among university students confronting formidable challenges.

© 2024 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2311
Number of pages8
JournalHealth Science Reports
Volume7
Issue number8
Online published12 Aug 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2024

Funding

No financial support was received for this study. The authors declare that there were no financial relationships or funding sources involved in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the report for publication.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

  • COVID‐19
  • hope
  • life satisfaction
  • self‐esteem
  • university students

Publisher's Copyright Statement

  • This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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