Relationships among just-world belief, optimism and life satisfaction in colleges

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship among just-world belief, optimism and life satisfaction in colleges. Methods According to convenience sampling principle, 370 colleges were selected and assessed with the just world scale for college students(JWS), satisfaction with life scale(SWLS) and the life orientation test-revised(LOT-R); and data were analyzed using correlation analysis and regression analysis. Results ①The scores of just-world belief, optimism and life satisfaction were (3.22±0.46), ( 3.50±0.57), and(3.70±1.21), all of which were higher than middle points. ②The scores of just-world belief were positive correlated with the scores of optimism and life satisfaction(r=0.44, 0.36, P<0.01), and the scores of optimism also were positive correlated with life satisfaction(r=0.38, P<0.01). ③ The just-world belief and optimism can positively predict life satisfaction directly(β=0.24, 0.29, P<0.01), and the two factors had interaction(β=0.09, P<0.05). Among optimistic students, life satisfaction of low just-world belief ones were much worse than that of high just world belief ones. However, among pessimistic students, the differences of life satisfaction between high and low just-world belief ones became little. Conclusion Just-world belief of colleges has significant predictive effect on life satisfaction, and the two factors had interaction. Key words: Colleges; Just-world belief; Life satisfaction; Optimism