Mediating effect of the preference for spontaneous self-concept on the influence of university students’ sense of coherence on depression and subjective well-being

Abstract

We examined if the influence of the Sense of Coherence (SOC) on depression and subjective well-being was mediated by preference for the spontaneous self-concept. University students (N=93) participated in the study. The Twenty Statement Test was used to assess their preferences for the spontaneous self-concept. Structural equation modeling examined mediating effects. Results indicated that the influence of SOC on depression was partially mediated by the preference for the spontaneous self-concept. However, SOC had a stronger influence on depression than preference for the spontaneous self-concept. Additionally, only the positive path from SOC to subjective well-being was significant with no mediation effect of the preference for the spontaneous self-concept.