Mediating role of stress coping on the relationship between self-esteem and post traumatic growth among traumatized university students

The current study has two main goals. The first goal is to determine the mediating role of problem, social support, and avoidance focused coping methods on the relationship between self-esteem and post-traumatic growth of traumatized university students. The second goal is to reveal the stress coping methods and positive changes of students who have high level of post-traumatic growth. Explanatory sequential pattern is used in this study which is designed in mixed method model. Post-Traumatic Growth Scale, Stress Coping Scale, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, and Personal Information Form were used in order to collect quantitative data. The qualitative data were collected from the students who have high level of post-traumatic growth by using Semi-Structured Interview Form. The sample of the study within the quantitative part consisted of 763, qualitative part consisted 12 undergraduate students. The quantitative data of the study were analyzed by using IBM SPSS ve AMOS Graphics programme by using structural equation model. Beside, bootstrapping precodure is used in order to confirm significance of indirect effects. In the analysis of qualitative data, NVIVO 11 programme is utilised and content analysis were used. According to the results of the study, problem, and avoidance focused coping methods were partially mediating the relationship between self esteem and post-traumatic growth on students. Social support focused coping was not mediating the relationship between self esteem and post-traumatic growth. Bootstrapping precodure comfirmed significance of indirect effects. According to quantative results; problem, social support, avoidance focused and religious coping methods were used by university students who have high level of post-traumatic growth. Changes in belief system, interpersonal relationships and perception of self were used by these students. Key Words: Post-traumatic Growth, Stress coping, Self-esteem, Mix method, Structural equation modeling, Bootstrapping, University Students.