Study of the relationship between self-esteem, perceived social support, and psychological resilience in university students

Social impact is the most important component of personal development. Family and social environment determines individuals' resoluteness, self-perception and their ability to cope with challenges, to a considerable extent. In the present study, the relationship between self-esteem, perceived social support, and psychological resilience in university students will be researched. Sample group of the research consists of students of private universities located in the Üsküdar district of the İstanbul province. Research group consists of 148 students, 75.8% (n: 113) of which, are female and 24.2% (n: 36) of which, are male. 96.6%(n: 144) of the participants are single, and 92.6% (n: 138) are undergraduates. 25.5% (n: 38) of the research participants have received psychiatric or psychological treatment at a point in their lives; of the latter group, 3.4% (n: 5) take medication regularly and 2% (n: 3) occasionally. As for the other 15.4% (n: 23), they admitted having taken medication in the past. In the research, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, perceived social support scale, psychological resilience (ego-resiliency) scale, and personal information form were used as data collection tool. In consequence of the research, a significant relationship was found between self-esteem, perceived social support, and psychological resilience, upon the observation of correlations between all the variables. Average scores of Rosenberg scale's subscales were compared through independent samples t-test in terms of gender, and no statistically significant difference was found. No gender-based difference was found with regard to the level of self-esteem, continuity of self-concept, trusting people, sensitiveness to criticism, depressive mood, fancifulness, psychosomatic symptoms, feeling threat in interpersonal relationships, level of being able to participate in discussions, parents' interest, relationship with the father, and psychic isolation. In terms of age, no statistically significant difference was found between the average scores of all subscales, except for the subscales of fancifulness and psychosomatic symptoms. In the fancifulness scale, the highest average score belongs to individuals of 21 years of age, while the lowest average score belongs to individuals of 24 years of age and older. Average scores of subscales of psychological resilience scale and perceived social support scale were compared through independent samples t-test in terms of age, and no statistically significant difference was found. In the present study, the average psychological resilience scores of participants who have received psychological treatment at a point in their lives was found lower, when compared with participants who have never received psychological treatment. No significant difference was found upon comparing the self-esteem of participants who have received psychological treatment at a point in their lives with participants who have never received psychological treatment. Average scores of subscales of perceived social support were compared through independent samples t-test in terms of reception of psychological treatment and usage of psychiatric medication, and no statistically significant difference was found. Key Words: Self-Esteem, Psychological Resilience, Perceived Social Support.