The Mediatory Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Learned Helplessness on Future Anxiety: A Research on Faculty of Health Sciences Students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the mediator role of self-esteem in the effect of learned helplessness on future anxiety. In addition, it was aimed to examine whether the mentioned variables varied according to the demographic characteristics of the participants. The sample group of the research consisted of students of the faculty of health sciences of a public university in the 2022-2023 academic year (n=287). This study was designed as a causal screening research, one of the quantitative research methods. The data were collected using the Learned Helplessness Scale, Future Anxiety Scale and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. The descriptive and cross-sectional data were analyzed using the SPSS 22 program. Independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Post Hoc Tukey test were used in the evaluation of learned helplessness, future anxiety and self-esteem according to demographic characteristics, and in determining the difference between groups. Hayes' Process Macro (Model 4) and bootstrap (5000 bootstrap samples) were used in the mediator variable model. According to the results of the mediation test analysis; when the direct effects were examined, it was found that learned helplessness had a significant and negative effect on self-esteem (β= -,543), and a significant and positive effect on future anxiety (β= ,347). When the indirect effects were examined by including self-esteem in the model, the indirect effect of learned helplessness on future anxiety (β= ,170) was determined to be significant and positive.