The Mediator Role of Subjective Vitality in the Relationship Between Psychological Hardiness and Self-Esteem: A Cross-Sectional Study with Nursing Students

ABS TRACT Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the me- diating role of subjective well-being in the relationship between psychological hardiness and self-esteem in nursing students. Material and Methods: The study is descriptive and cross-sectional. It was carried out between 01-30 April, 2020 with 462 nursing department students determined by random sampling method. The questionnaires were de-livered to the students in online system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal Information Form, Psychological Hardiness Scale, Self-es-teem Scale and Subjective Vitality Scale were used. SPSS 21 and AMOS 22 programs were used to evaluate the data with Structural Equation Model (SEM). Effect levels were evaluated with boostrap (5000). Results: The mean scores of psychological hardiness, subjective vitality and self-esteem were 3.10±0.37, 4.99±1.20, and 2.63±0.79, respectively. The correlation coefficient between psychological hardiness, subjective vitality and self-esteem is statistically significant (p<0.01). It was determined that psychological hardiness has a direct and indirect effect on self-esteem ( β = ,490, β =,219, respectively). Sub- jective vitality played a partial mediating role. Conclusion: The results showed that psychological hardiness and subjective vitality can signif- icantly affect self-esteem in nursing students. The relationship was par-tially mediated by subjective vitality. In addition to the improved psychological hardiness of students, their subjective vitality will sig-nificantly enhance their self-esteem. Also, the study can contribute to solving the underlying mechanisms of self-esteem. It can provide a method reference for future studies with model analysis. It may be rec- ommended that students be monitored for psychological hardiness and subjective vitality in terms of increasing their self-esteem and that en- hancing interventions be applied.