Role of Resilience and Self-esteem on Psychological well-being among college

students
Abstract
Objective: Our world has faced many problems in different domains and seems to be lurching
from one crisis to another, especially demonetization, economical crisis, natural calamities,
and the recently experienced COVID -19 surge, an unprecedented public health crisis. Living
through these times became difficult and eventually became our urgent need to save lives by
expanding healthcare facilities affecting an individual overall physiological and
psychological well-being .For restoring our psychological well-being , it was found that self-
esteem and resilience are crucial to well-being strategies for restoring to challenging times for
students as they face financial adversities and hardships , managing academic commitments ,
and hybrid mode classes , which led to mental health deteriorations. The main objective of
the present was to find out the relationship between resilience, self-esteem and psychological
well-being among college students and also to find out the impact of predictor variables on
the criterion variables.
Method: In the present study, 120 college students were chosen using purposive sampling.
Rosenberg’s Self- esteem scale, developed by Rosenberg (2018), was used to measure Self-
esteem and CD-RISC, developed by Conner and Davidson (2003), was used to measure
resilience. The psychological well-being scale developed by Ryff (1989) was used to measure
psychological well-being. In current study data was examined by using a correlational design.
Result: It was found that self-esteem and resilience were positively and significantly
associated with psychological well-being. Also, according to the study’s findings, self-esteem
and resilience were significant predictors of psychological well-being.
Conclusion: This study was sheds light on the self-esteem and resilience of college students.
Self- esteem and resilience have been discovered to be essential in supporting a person in
overcoming significant stressors. As a result, self-esteem and resilience have emerged as a
predictor of better psychological well-being. Resilience and self-esteem are essential to
promoting psychological well-being among college students. Developing and enhancing
these skills through various interventions, such as counselling, support services, and stress
management programs, can improve students’ coping skills and promote their well-being.
Keywords: Resilience, self-esteem, mental health, coping strategy, ad psychological well-
being.

INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Over time, there have been notable transformations in the composition of families. Joint families,
characterized by the cohabitation of many generations, have given way to nuclear families, which are
composed of parents and their offspring. Investigating the elements that support psychological health
and family resilience requires an understanding of the dynamics of various family systems.
The pursuit of happiness and fulfillment is almost a universal desire, but there are wide variations in
the paths that lead to these states of ecstasy and realized joy depending on the person and the
situation. The study of psychological well-being and its associated facets has gained momentum due
to the discipline of positive psychology, which aims to inspire individuals to live joyful and
meaningful lives. The nation's future lies with its college students. A student's time in college is
crucial to their life since it is a time of transformation during which they encounter the various
psychological and social challenges of early adulthood and learn how to assume personal
responsibility for their actions (Arnett, 2000). College students now face far more complicated issues
in the ever-evolving modern world than (Chao, 2012) thus leading to more psychological disturbances
in their daily lives (Garcia ,Garcia, Castillio & Queralt, 2011).
Research comparing nuclear and joint families' psychological health and resilience is, however,
scarce. Thus, the goal of this research is to investigate the particular effects of family structure on
psychological health and resilience in order to provide guidance for interventions and treatments that
are suited for various family configurations. The best time in every person's life is when they are a
student. It is crucial that the student is raised in a supportive environment since this will shape his
personality in the future. Additionally, a person's overall healthy personality development is greatly
influenced by their level of self-esteem (Orth & Robins, 2014).
According to Taylor and Brown (1988), one of the most crucial elements of psychological well-being
is self-esteem, which is closely linked to a number of well-being and adjustment-related
characteristics. Therefore, in order to manage the psychological discomfort that may surface during
this difficult time, a good sense of self-worth is necessary. Therefore, it is imperative to support
Indian youth's psychological well-being in order to boost their output and help them develop positive
attitudes that would help them live more satisfying lives. The present research will contribute to the
comprehensive understanding of the relationship between resilience and self-esteem on psychological
well-being among college students.

Psychological well-being
According to Ryff (1989), psychological well-being is the state of optimal psychological functioning
and experience. It is composed of six components, which include positive relationships with others,
self-acceptance, autonomy, environmental mastery, and a purpose in life. Deci and Ryan (2008)
defined psychological well-being from two angles: eudemonic, or operating at peak performance in
one's social and personal life, and hedonic, or an accumulation of happy emotions. Incorporating
concepts that can improve one's physiological, informative, individual, professional, and family health
as well as by fostering positive social bonds, psychological well-being influences a person's emotional
and psychological processes and improves mental health (Asli Azad, Shariat, Farhadi & Shahidi,
2018). Positively thinking about one's past life is the practice of accepting and recognizing various
facets of oneself. Being open to new experiences and feeling that one has room to grow is what it
means to be personally growing. You also feel more knowledgeable and capable. Setting objectives
and feeling purposeful in life, believing in important past lives, and holding onto ideas that instill
meaning in life are all signs of purpose. A sense of competence and the ability to navigate a complex
environment—as well as the ability to select or establish a community that suits oneself—are aspects
of environmental mastery.
Autonomy is the capacity to think for oneself, act independently, reject external pressure to behave a
specific way, and assess oneself using standards that are unique to oneself. Having warm, fulfilling,
and trustworthy relationships; caring about the well-being of others; possessing a strong sense of
empathy, affection, and intimacy; and understanding the reciprocity of human relationships are all
indicators of positive interpersonal interactions.
The concept of psychological well-being is multifaceted and includes views toward one's existence.
Psychological well-being is closely linked to health, and an individual's overall health is greatly
influenced by their psychological well-being (Ryff, 2014). Positive and negative interpersonal
affective states can be used to understand subjective well-being (Grossi & Compare, 2014). It does
not require people to ignore their bad emotions and only concentrate on their good ones, as unpleasant
emotions like disappointment, sadness, worry, and anger are all normal parts of life.
Nonetheless, in order to preserve long-term wellbeing, he or she must be able to manage unpleasant
sentiments and emotions.

Self-esteem
Self-esteem is crucial to an adult's healthy personality development, which is achieved in a particular
social and cultural context and has further ramifications for people's life (Orth & Robins, 2014). Self-
esteem is defined as an individual's assessment of their own worth, both positively and negatively
(Rosenberg, 1965). Self-esteem is a person's total subjective emotional assessment of their own
value.It is an assessment of oneself that a person makes for themselves. Beliefs about oneself (such as
"I am good" or "I am bad") and emotional experiences (such as joy, grief, pride, and shame) jointly
make up self-esteem. Self-esteem is the sum of one's positive and negative self-perceptions.
According to Cicarelli and White (2015), self-esteem is defined as an individual's perceptions of
themselves, which are typically seen as either positive or negative. According to Social Identity
Theory (Tajfel, 2010; Tajfel & Turner, 1986), a person's assessment of themselves is based on the
social identities they have created through group membership. People with good perceptions of their
social groupings show higher levels of self-esteem than people with negative perceptions of their
social groups. A person with high self-esteem is happier overall and is far more effective and self-
assured when engaging with others and the outside world. However, people with low self-esteem are
more sensitive to other people's opinions of them, which makes them less confident in social
situations and increases feelings of pessimism that affect social interactions and lead to stress
(Meszaros & De Wals, 2011).
According to Mruk (2006), self-esteem is a psychological co Additionally, the Sociological Model of
Self-esteem (Cooley's, 1902) indicates that societal variables are significant in determining an
individual's self-esteem, suggesting that young students may have a good self-esteem if they are
respected by society at large. According to Coopersmith (1967), a person's sense of respect,
appreciation, and attention from others have an impact on how self-assured they become. According
to Coopersmith (1967), a person's amount of respect, appreciation, and attention from others have an
impact on how self-assured they feel about themselves.

Resilience
Resilience is the capacity to effectively manage a catastrophe and swiftly resume regular activities. It
is present when someone uses thought processes and actions to enhance one's own assets and shield
oneself from possible negative consequences of stressors. It is present in those who acquire the
psychological and behavioural skills necessary to maintain composure in the face of turmoil or crises
and to move on from the experience without suffering long-term consequences. The 3Ps Model of
Resilience by Seligman: Seligman's 3Ps model is the original positive psychology paradigm for
resilience. The three Ps stand for personalization, pervasiveness, and permanence, and they represent
the three typical emotional responses humans have to hardship. By learning to control these three,
frequently instinctive, reactions, we can strengthen our ability to withstand setbacks and progress.
Following these three P’s , individuals can build resilience and bounce back from life adversities .
The 3Ps Seligman’s (1990) 3Ps are explained as:
Personalization : It is a type of cognitive distortion that's best explained as internalizing issues or
failure. We place a great deal of needless blame on ourselves and hinder our ability to get past
negative experiences when we hold ourselves responsible for them.
Pervasiveness : Expecting unfavorable circumstances exist in many aspects of our lives; for instance,
believing that everything is bad in general after losing a competition. We can take the first step toward
a healthier existence by realizing that negative emotions don't affect every aspect of our lives.
Permanence : Thinking that negative experiences or occurrences are permanent rather than
ephemeral or isolated incidents. Permanence keeps us from working to make things better, which
sometimes leaves us feeling hopeless and burdened.Most people take advantage of this benefit and
use it to counteract everyday tensions. A person's resilience is determined by a multitude of
circumstances. The following includes:
1. The person has capacity to create and carry out practical plans is a prerequisite.
2.The person needs to have faith in his own skills and abilities.
3. The person needs to be an effective communicator and problem-solver.
4. The person needs to be able to control his intense emotions and urges.
Relationship between Self-esteem and Psychological Well-being
Diener (1984) identified life satisfaction, positive affective experiences, and negative affective states
as the three main determinants of well-being.He discovered four personality traits—self-esteem,
extraversion, optimism, and self-control—while looking at the profiles of cheerful people (Myers &
Diener, 1995). Consequently, one such important factor that affects a person's psychological health is
their sense of self-worth. Higher self-esteem, in accordance with self-affirmation theory, serves as a
protective barrier against traumatic events and setbacks (Steele, 1988). According to DeNeve &
Cooper (1998), Diener & Diener (1995), and Lyubomirsky & Lepper (2006), self-esteem is positively
correlated with emotions of happiness and serves as a key antecedent for happiness. A positive
outlook on one's own progresses happiness and mental wellness (Taylor & Brown, 1988). According
to Diener (1984), an individual's subjective well-being is largely predicted by having a high sense of
self-worth. According to Ryan and Deci (2000), the Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT) holds
that satisfying the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness is crucial for
achieving positive life outcomes. Conversely, denying these needs impairs human functioning and
overall well-being. The text highlights the significant influence of the environment on human
existence. Consequently, the fulfillment of psychological demands for successful adaptation to life's
dynamic changes and improved functioning depends on the environment for the well-being of
humans. According to Diener et al. (2010), psychological well-being is linked to a number of
significant facets of human functioning, including meaningful living, self-competence, and good
relationships. Positive emotions like contentment and optimism are more prevalent in those with high
self-esteem, while anxiety, depression, stress, and depressive symptoms are less common
(Pyszczynski, Greenberg, Solomon, Arndt & Schimel, 2004).
Relationship between Resilience and Psychological Well-being
Resilience has been viewed as a benefit that supports university students' needs for psychological
wellness in the academic setting (Hartley, 2012). A prevalent phenomena among college students
suggests that resilience is associated with fewer psychological disorders and greater transition to the
college environment (Khawaja & Stallman, 2011). According to research by Campbell-Sills et al.
(2006), people who are incredibly resilient have flexible coping skills and consistently turn stressful
situations into chances for growth. college students who reported high levels of psychological well-
being also reported high levels of resilience, according to Sagone and De Caroli (2014). In order to
advance prosperity and well-being, resilience is crucial, especially in times of adversity. Resilience is
beneficial to an individual's mental health and has a basic effect on reducing depressive symptoms,
according to Kaloeti et al. (2018)
II. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between resilience and self-esteem on
psychological well-being among college students. The specific objectives of the study were:
To examine whether resilience and self-esteem are significant predictors of psychological well-being.
To find out the relationship between resilience, self-esteem and psychological well-being among
college students .

III.HYPOTHESIS
There is a positive and significant contribution of resilience on the psychological well-being of
college students.
There is a positive and significant contribution of self-esteem on the psychological well-being of
college students.
There is a positive and significant relationship between resilience , self-esteem and psychological
well-being among college students.

IV.MATERIALS AND METHODS

It is a quantitative study based on non-experimental research design. The present study is descriptive,
correlational and comparative in nature.

PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASURES
Rosenberg’s Self- esteem scale, developed by Rosenberg (2018), was used to measure Self-esteem
.This scale consisted of 10 items in order to measure self-esteem. The scale ranges from 0-30. Scores
between 15 and 25 are within normal range; scores below 15 suggest low self-esteem. The score was
computed by summing up the total score that an individual obtained. The higher score indicates the
higher level of self-esteem.
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), developed by Conner and Davidson (2003), was used
to measure resilience. The CD-RISC (Connor & Davidson, 2003) is one of the most common
instruments to assess resilience amongst adults. Each item is rated on a five-point scale (0 is not at all
true to 4 is true nearly all the time). The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores
corresponding to higher levels of resilience.
Psychological well-being scale developed by Carol Ryff (1989) was used to measure psychological
well-being. The PWB scale assesses six dimensions of psychological well-being ,including namely (a)
Autonomy, (b) Environmental Mastery, (c) Personal growth , (d) Positive relations with others, (e)
Purpose in life , (f) Self-Acceptance .This instrument consisted of 42 items in order to measure
psychological well-being. Each item is rated on a 6-point likert scale ranging from 1 ( strongly
disagree ) to 6 (strongly agree). The score was computed by summing up the total score that an
individual obtained. The higher score indicates the higher level of psychological well-being.

PROCEDURE
The questionnaires on resilience and self-esteem and psychological well-being were given to
the students to fill out. They were also told that their answers would remain private and that
their identities would be kept anonymous. The questionnaires were then gathered and
manually scored.
RESULTS

Table.1. Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients among independents variables

with dependent variable (n=50)

Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (two-tailed).As shown in table 1, the mean and
standard deviation of Resilience, Self Esteem and Psychological well-being
were163.20(SD=8.122), 37.66(1.493) and248.02(SD=2.227)respectively. The table shows the
correlation coefficients of Resilience and Self Esteem with Psychological well-being. The
two variables correlation were positive statistical and significant.

Table .2. Effects of Resilience and Self Esteem on Psychological Well-being.

A multiple regression was used to predict Psychological well-being from Resilience and Self-Esteem.
The results showed that the prediction model was fitted and the variables statistically, significantly
predicted, F=0.914, p=.441, R2=0.056. Furthermore, the unstandardized coefficients showed that
Resilience and Self Esteem are n significantly predicting psychological wellbeing.

DISCUSSION
All of the psychological well-being subscales (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth,
positive relationships with others, purpose, and self-acceptance) showed a positive correlation with
resilience and self-esteem. These findings align with the research conducted by Souri and Hasanirad
(2011) and Besharat et al. (2007). According to earlier research (Carver, Scheier, & Segerstrom, 2010;
Karademas, 2006; Souri & Hasanirad, 2011; Tusaie-Mumford, 2001; Yee Ho, Cheung & Cheung,
2010; Yu & Zhang, 2007), resilience plays a critical role in determining an individual's psychological
well-being. According to Sinclair and Wallston (2004), one of the main perspectives that determines
an individual's well-being is their belief in their own capacity to overcome obstacles. This suggests
that the potential of this is confirmed. Thus, a more confident assessment of one's ability to adjust to
challenges and dangers results in a more positive assessment of one's life and generates more
positive and less negative emotions (Rodríguez-Fernández, Ramos-Díaz, & Axpe-Saez, 2018).This
study aimed at predicting psychological well-being from resilience and self-esteem . The results of
the correlation analysis showed that self-esteem and resilience were correlated. with psychological
well -being. Also, the multiple regression models predicted that the variables resilience and self-
esteem significantly predicted psychological well-being .Thus there is a positive and significant
relationship between resilience and self-esteem and psychological well-being. Therefore , all the
stated hypothesis were accepted .Thus, people who have high levels of self-esteem and resillience
also had higher psychological well-being.

CONCLUSION
The present study sheds light on the self-esteem and resilience of college students. Self- esteem and
resilience have been discovered to be essential in supporting a person in overcoming significant
stressors. As a result, self-esteem and resilience have emerged as a predictor of better psychological
well-being. Resilience and self-esteem are essential to promoting psychological well-being among
college students. Developing and enhancing these skills through various interventions, such as
counselling, support services, and stress management programs, can improve students’ coping skills
and promote their well-being.

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