The Pathway from Resilience to Psychological Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Body Image

Abstract

Psychological well-being is a fundamental indicator of positive mental health and optimal psychological functioning, encompassing self-acceptance, autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relationships, purpose in life, and personal growth (Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995). The current study examined the relationship between resilience and psychological well-being and investigated the mediating role of body image among university students. A cross-sectional correlational research design was employed. A total of 350 university students (18–26 years) from various public and private universities participated in the study through online data collection using convenience sampling. The findings revealed that resilience was positively associated with body image and psychological well-being. Regression analyses indicated that resilience significantly predicted psychological well-being, while body image made a significant independent contribution to the prediction model. Furthermore, mediation analysis demonstrated that body image significantly mediated the relationship between resilience and psychological well-being, as the bootstrapped indirect effect was statistically significant and the 95% confidence interval excluded zero. These findings suggest that resilient students tend to develop a more positive body image, which, in turn, enhances their psychological well-being. The study highlights the importance of fostering resilience and promoting positive body image through university-based counseling services and psychological interventions to improve students' mental health and overall well-being.