social support and life satisfaction in adolescents:the mediating role of self-esteem

the aim of the present study was to formulate a model based on the relationships of social support, self-efficacy, selfesteem and life satisfaction. Two hundred and thirteen high school students (111 females, 102 males) were selected by cluster sampling. The participants completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1988), the Self-Efficacy Scale (Sherer et al., 1982), the Self-Esteem Scale (RSES; Rosenberg, 1965) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985). The results of path analysis indicated that 1) social support had significant positive relationships with self-efficacy, self-esteem and life satisfaction, 2) there was significant positive relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction, 3) there was significant positive relationship between self-efficacy and self-esteem, and 4) social support had direct relationship with life satisfaction, and indirect relationship through self-efficacy and self-esteem. The findings suggested that social support resources should be taken into consideration in promoting self-efficacy, self-esteem and life satisfaction in adolescents.