The Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience in the Relationship Between Emotional Beliefs and General Health in Humanities Students
Keywords:
Psychological Resilience, Emotional Beliefs, General Health, University StudentsAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between emotional beliefs and general health among humanities students at Islamic Azad University, Gorgan.
Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling. The statistical population comprised all humanities students at Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, during the 2025–2026 academic year, from whom 280 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using Manser et al.’s 25-item Emotional Beliefs Questionnaire, the 28-item Goldberg and Hillier General Health Questionnaire, and the 25-item Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale. Inferential analyses were performed using structural equation modeling, maximum likelihood estimation, and bootstrap procedures in SPSS 18 and AMOS 23.
Findings: The structural model demonstrated satisfactory fit (χ²/df=2.645, GFI=0.995, AGFI=0.990, NFI=0.992, CFI=0.988, TLI=0.998, RFI=0.996, PNFI=0.526, and RMSEA=0.035). Emotional beliefs had a significant positive direct effect on general health problem scores (β=0.156, t=2.978, p=0.01), whereas psychological resilience had a significant negative direct effect (β=−0.185, t=−2.969, p=0.01). Bootstrap analysis further indicated a significant indirect effect of emotional beliefs on general health through psychological resilience (β=−0.402, 95% CI [−0.487, −0.356], p=0.01). Because the confidence interval did not include zero, the mediating role of psychological resilience was confirmed. The final model explained approximately 33.1% of the variance in general health.
Conclusion: Dysfunctional emotional beliefs appear to be associated with poorer general health both directly and indirectly through reduced psychological resilience. Accordingly, university-based interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive emotional beliefs and strengthening resilience may contribute to improved general health among students.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Aythoneh Pordan (Author); Alireza Homayouni
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