The mediator role of optimism between psychological resilience and coping strategies with the pandemic of university students

The aim of this study the investigate the mediating role of optimism between psychological resilience and coping strategies of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the study investigated whether there was a significant difference between the psychological resilience scores of university students and sociodemographic variables including age, gender, grade level, perceived socioeconomic level during the pandemic, the level of impact on economic status during the pandemic, and the level of loss during the pandemic. The current study's participants consisted of 426 university students selected through a convenient sampling method. The study was organized following a correlational design and a single-mediator structural model was established in this context. In addition, t-test and ANOVA analysis methods were used to analyze socio-demographic variables. Data were analyzed with SPSS 23.00 and AMOS. As a result of the analysis, it was understood that optimism has a mediating role in the relationship between psychological resilience and coping strategies with the pandemic, and the relationships between psychological resilience, optimism; optimism and coping strategies with the pandemic; psychological resilience and coping strategies with the pandemic variables were found to be positive and significant. Among the sociodemographic variables examined (age, gender, class level, with whom he/she lived during the pandemic, perceived socio-economic level and the level of impact of their economic situation during the pandemic period, loss of status during the pandemic), only a significant relationship was found between psychological resilience and gender in favor of males. The findings were discussed and interpreted in light of the relevant literature, and recommendations were made for researchers and practitioners.