The Mediator Role of Social-Emotional Learning Skills in the Relationship Between Depression and Mental Well-Being

Abstract

Well-being is a multifaceted concept encompassing a broad spectrum of dimensions, including mental well-being, which has been an appealing area of study for scholars from different parts of the world. The current study aims to explore the relationship among depression, social-emotional learning skills, and mental well-being in a conveniently selected sample of college students. The sample consisted of 237 public school undergraduate students, of whom 151 (63.29%) were women. The results indicated that social-emotional learning skills partially mediated the relationship between depression and mental well-being. The findings show that social-emotional learning skills pose a protective factor against lower levels of mental well-being occurring as the result of depressive symptoms. The overall model explained 32% of variance in mental well-being. Findings were discussed in the light of the relevant literature. Through synthesizing current literature knowledge and results derived, this study aims to provide a foundation for further research and practice that promotes mental well-being.