The Roles of Stress Appraisal and Self-Efficacy in Fostering Resilience to Improve Psychosocial Outcomes Following Negative Life Events Among College Students: A Multiple Mediation Analysis

The purpose of this dissertation study was to explore the interrelationships between stress appraisal, self-efficacy, and psychosocial outcomes (i.e., resilience and self-concept) within the context of negative life events among college students. Participants (n = 220) were undergraduate students enrolled at a large southeastern university. Study participants completed the Life Experiences Survey (Sarason et al., 1978), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Sherer et al., 1982), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor & Davidson, 2003), the Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale (Fleming & Courtney, 1984), and the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983). Two hypothesized models of multiple mediation were proposed to explain the relationships between these variables. Model 1 examined the relationship between negative life change and resilience as mediated by stress appraisal and self-efficacy. Model 2 examined the mediating relationship between negative life change and self-concept through stress appraisal and self-efficacy. The path coefficients for the models were estimated through Ordinary Least Squares regression using the INDIRECT SPSS macro with bootstrapping procedures (Preacher & Hayes, 2008). Significant indirect effects were found for stress appraisal and self-efficacy in both models. Results support a mediating relationship between negative life change and psychosocial outcomes through stress appraisal and self-efficacy. Future research recommendations and implications including potential interventions are discussed.