Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Social Safeness and Psychological Vulnerability in Turkish Youth: The Mediating Role of Life Satisfaction

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study examined whether life satisfaction mediated social safeness and psychological vulnerability in Turkish youth. The participants included 261 university students who completed a questionnaire package that included the Turkish versions of the Social Safeness and Pleasure Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Psychological Vulnerability Scale. To test the proposed mediation model, authors employed hierarchical regressions. Furthermore, the authors tested mediation model using the Sobel Z-test and bootstrapping method to examine any indirect effects. Consistent with our hypotheses, the results indicated that there was a positive relationship between social safeness and life satisfaction, and a negative relationship between social safeness and psychological vulnerability. The results of the Sobel Z-test and bootstrapping revealed that life satisfaction significantly, yet partially, mediated the relationship between social safeness and psychological vulnerability. The findings highlight the importance of life satisfaction in enhancing perceptions of social safeness and decreasing psychological vulnerability among Turkish college students.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aben, I., Denollet, J., Lousberg, R., Verhey, F., Wojciechowski, F., & Honig, A. (2002). Personality and vulnerability to depression in stroke patients: a 1-year prospective follow-up study. Stroke, 33, 2391–2395.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Acun-Kapikiıran, N. (2012). Positive and negative affectivity as mediator and moderator of the relationship between optimism and life satisfaction in Turkish university students. Social Indicators Research, 106(2), 333–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, G. A., King, L. A., & King, D. W. (1996). Relationships of job and family involvement, family social support, and work-family conflict with job and life satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81(4), 411–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aday, L. (2001). At risk in America. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akbas, O. (2005). Determination of the high school freshmen level of confidence in the class. Gazi University Journal of Gazi Educational Faculty, 25(2), 275–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akin, A., & Eker, H. (2011). Turkish version of the Psychological Vulnerability Scale: A study of validity and reliability. Paper presented at the 32th International Conference of the Stress and Anxiety Research Society (STAR), July, 18–20, Munster, Germany.

  • Akin, A., Uysal, R., & Citemel, N. (2013). Sosyal Güvende Hissetme ve Memnuniyet Ölçeğinin Türkçe’ye uyarlanması. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 9(1), 34–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baruffol, E., Gisle, L., & Corten, P. (1995). Life satisfaction as a mediator between distressing events and neurotic impairment in a general population. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 92(1), 56–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497–529.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bulut Serin, N., Serin, O., & Ozbas, L. F. (2010). Predicting university students’ life satisfaction by their anxiety and depression level. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 9, 579–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busseri, M. A., Sadava, S. W., & Decourville, N. (2007). A hybrid model for research on subjective wellbeing: examining common- and component-specific sources of variance in life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect. Social Indicators Research, 83, 413–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caine, R. N., & Caine, G. (1991). Making connections. Teaching and the human brain. California: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloninger, C. R. (1994). The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI): a guide to its development and use. Washington University, St Louis, Missouri: Centre for Psychobiology of Personality.

  • Cox, B. J., Enns, M. W., Walker, J. R., Kjernisted, K., & Pidlubny, S. R. (2001). Psychological vulnerabilities in patients with major depression vs panic disorder. Behavior Research and Therapy, 39, 567–573.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: the science of happiness and a proposal of a national index. American Psychologist, 55, 34–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Diener, C. (1995). The wealth of nations revisited: income and quality of life. Social Indicators Research, 36, 275–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Lucas, R. E. (1999). Personality and subjective well-being. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener, & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-being: The foundations of a hedonic psychology (pp. 213–229). New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2003). Personality, culture, and subjective well-being: emotional and cognitive evaluations of life. Annual Review of Psychology, 54, 403–425.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D. W., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). New well-being measures: short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicator Research, 97, 143–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durak, M., Senol-Durak, E., & Gencoz, T. (2010). Psychometric properties of the satisfaction with life scale among Turkish university students, correctional officers, and elderly adults. Social Indicators Research, 99(3), 413–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, L. M., & Lopez, S. J. (2006). Perceived family support, acculturation, and life satisfaction in Mexican american youth: a mixed-methods exploration. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(3), 279–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eng, W., Coles, M. E., Heimberg, R. G., & Safren, S. A. (2004). Domains of life satisfaction in social anxiety disorder: relation to symptoms and response to cognitive-behavioral therapy. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 19, 143–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, P. (2005). Compassion: Conceptualisations research and use in psychotherapy. London: Brunner-Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, P. (2009). The compassionate mind. Oakland: New Harbinger Publications Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, P. (2010). Compassion focused therapy. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, P., McEwan, K., Mitra, R., Richter, A., Franks, L., Mills, A., Bellew, R., & Gale, C. (2009). An exploration of different types of positive affect in students and patients with bipolar disorder. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 6, 135–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, R., & Huebner, E. S. (2006). Characteristics of adolescents who report very high life satisfaction. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(3), 311–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, R., Cook, O., & Yung, Y. (2001). Loneliness and life satisfaction among three cultural groups. Personal Relationships, 8, 225–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guler, B. K., & Emec, H. (2006). Yaşam memnuniyeti ve akademik başarıda iyimserlik etkisi. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi İktisadı ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi, 21(2), 129–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoshi, M. (2008). Self-transcendence, vulnerability, and well-being in hospitalized Japanese elders. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Arizona.

  • Ingram, R. E., & Price, J. M. (2010). Understanding psychopathology: The role of vulnerability. In R. E. Ingram & J. M. Price (Eds.), Vulnerability to Psychopathology: Risk across the lifespan (2nd ed., pp. 3–17). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, R. E., & Ritter, J. (2000). Vulnerability to depression: Cognitive reactivity and parental bonding in high-risk individuals. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109, 588–596.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joiner, T. E. (1997). Shyness and low social support as interactive diatheses, with loneliness as mediator: Testing an interpersonal personality view of vulnerability to depressive symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 106, 386–394.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, A. C., Zuroff, D. C., Leybman, M. J., & Gilpert, P. (2012). Social safeness, received social support, and maladjustment: testing a tripartite model of affect regulation. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(6), 815–826.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, R. E., & Gohm, C. (2000). Age and sex differences in subjective well-being across cultures. In E. Diener & E. M. Suh (Eds.), Culture and subjective well-being (pp. 291–317). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyubomirsky, S., & Lepper, H. S. (1999). A measure of subjective happiness: preliminary reliability and construct validation. Social Indicators Research, 46, 37–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maslow, A. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mechanic, D., & Tanner, J. L. (2007). Vulnerable people, groups, and populations. Health Affairs, 26(5), 1220–1230.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mesquita, B. (2001). Culture and emotion. Different approaches to the question. In T. J. Mayne & G. A. Bonanno (Eds.), Emotions. Current issues and future directions (pp. 214–250). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nes, R. B., Czajkowski, N. O., Roysamb, E., Orstavik, R. E., Tambs, K., & Reichborn-Kjennerud, T. (2012). Major depression and life satisfaction: a population-based twin study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 144, 51–58.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nes, R. B., Czajkowski, N. O., Røysamb, E., Ørstavik, R. E., Tambs, K., & Reichborn-Kjennerud, T. (2013). Major depression and life satisfaction: a population-based twin study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 144(1), 51–58.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Oh, H. J., Ozkaya, E., & LaRose, R. (2014). How does online social networking enhance life satisfaction? The relationships among online supportive interaction, affect, perceived social support, sense of community, and life satisfaction. Computers in Human Behavior, 30, 69–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paschali, A., & Tsitsas, G. (2010). Stress and life satisfaction among university students: a pilot study. Annals of General Psychiatry, 9, 96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). Review of the satisfaction with life scale. Psychological Assessment, 5, 164–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto-Gouveia, J., Ferreira, C., & Duarte, C. (2012). Thinness in the pursuit for social safeness: an integrative model of social rank mentality to explain eating psychopathology. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 21(2), 154–165.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40, 879–891.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rothstein, B., & Uslaner, E. M. (2005). All for all: Equality, corruption, and social trust. World Politics, 58(1), 41–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satici, S. A., Kayis, A. R., & Akin, A. (2013a). Predictive role of authenticity on psychological vulnerability in Turkish university students. Psychological Reports, 112(2), 519–528.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Satici, S. A., Uysal, R., & Akin, A. (2013b). Authenticity as a predictor of social safeness in Turkish university students. Ceskoslovenska Psychologie, 57(6), 533–541.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligman, M., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: an introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 5–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, D. K., Bunyan, D. P., Creswell, J. D., & Jaremka, L. M. (2009). Psychological vulnerability and stress: the effects of self-affirmation on sympathetic nervous system responses to naturalistic stressors. Health Psychology, 28(5), 554–562.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siahpush, M., Spittal, M., & Singh, G. K. (2008). Happiness and life satisfaction prospectively predict self-rated health, physical health, and the presence of limiting, long-term health conditions. American Journal of Health Promotion, 23, 18–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair, V. G., & Wallston, K. A. (1999). The development and validation of the psychological vulnerability scale. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 23(2), 119–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suldo, S. M., & Huebner, E. S. (2004). Does life satisfaction moderate the effects of stressful life events on psychopathological behaviors during adolescence? School Psychology Quarterly, 19, 93–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suldo, S. M., & Huebner, E. S. (2006). Is extremely high life satisfaction during adolescence advantageous? Social Indicators Research, 78, 179–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thielke, S., Harniss, M., Thompson, H., Patel, S., Demiris, G., & Johnson, K. (2012). Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs and the adoption of health-related technologies for older adult. Ageing International, 37(4), 470–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A. (1982). Life stress, social support, and psychological vulnerability: epidemiological considerations. Journal of Community Psychology, 10, 341–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H. C. (2001). Individualism‐collectivism and personality. Journal of Personality, 69(6), 907–924.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Hoorn, A. (2007). A short introduction to subjective well-being: Its measurement, correlates and policy uses. http://www.oecd.org/site/worldforum06/38331839.pdf.

  • Wang, C. E. (2006). Depression and cognitive vulnerability. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Tromso.

  • Yamawaki, N., Nelson, J. A. P., & Omori, M. (2011). Self-esteem and life satisfaction as mediators between parental bonding and psychological well-being in Japanese young adults. International Journal of Psychology, 3(1), 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yavuzer, Y., & Çivilidag, A. (2014). Mediator role of depression on the relationship between mobbing and life satisfaction of health professionals. Düşünen Adam Dergisi, 27(2), 115–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yetim, U. (2003). The impacts of individualism/collectivism, self-esteem, and feeling of mastery on life satisfaction among the Turkish university students and academicians. Social Indicators Research, 61(3), 297–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, G. A. (1994). Bootstrap: more than a stab in the dark? Statistical Science, 9(3), 382–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey

    Seydi Ahmet Satici & M. Fatih Yilmaz

  2. Faculty of Education, Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Recep Uysal & M. Engin Deniz

Authors
  1. Seydi Ahmet Satici
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Recep Uysal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Fatih Yilmaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Engin Deniz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seydi Ahmet Satici.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Satici, S.A., Uysal, R., Yilmaz, M.F. et al. Social Safeness and Psychological Vulnerability in Turkish Youth: The Mediating Role of Life Satisfaction. Curr Psychol 35, 22–28 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9359-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9359-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation