Relationship between Perceived Social Support and Self-esteem with Satisfaction of Life in Iranian Students

Life satisfaction with several factors such as self-esteem and perceived social support has a strong and significant relationship in different groups. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived social support and self-esteem with life satisfaction in Iranian students.
This correlation study was performed in the population of all undergraduate students at Mazandaran University in Babolsar in 2013-2014 which enrolled using available sampling method. Using Cochran formula, 256 samples (166 girls and 90 boys) were selected and then responded to three questionnaires as self-esteem scale (RSES), multi-dimensional perceived social support scale (MPSSS), and life satisfaction scale (SWLS). To analyze the data, T-test for independent samples, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression was used in SPSS 18 software.
Using multiple regression analysis on life satisfaction scale and four predictor variables using step-by-step method in female students, life satisfaction scale was determined by two variables: self-esteem with coefficient (Beta=0.42) and perceived social support by the family with a coefficient (Beta=0.24). Also, in boys, life satisfaction scale is predicted by two variables of self-esteem with a coefficient (Beta = 0.28) and social support perceived by friends with a coefficient (Beta = 0.25).
Increasing of social support understanding and self-esteem leads to improve in health and quality of life. Health and Function is one of the important dimensions of quality of life that is influenced by psychological factors. Increasing these two psychological variables increases the level of person's performance, daily activities and quality of life.