Structural relationships between students' social support and self-esteem, depression, and happiness

Abstract

We examined structural relationships between physical education students' social support and social self-esteem, depression, and happiness. Participants (N = 311) completed measures of perceived social support from parents, professors, and peers, and of the students' levels of depression, happiness, and self-esteem. Results showed that parents', professors', and peers' social support were significant antecedent variables that increased the students' self-esteem, that parents' and professors' social support were associated with lower depression, and that high self-esteem was associated with greater happiness and lower depression. The latter association, however, was not significant. Results indicated that social support and high self-esteem are useful resources that help college students live happy lives by promoting positive emotions.