The predictive power of general self-efficacy beliefs and body images of university students on resilience

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to investigate whether the university students’ resilience level was predicted by their general self-efficacy beliefs and body images. The study group consisted of 569 university students, 324 female (%57) and 245 male (%43), aged from 17 to 24, studying in preparatory schools of various universities in different cities in Turkey. In the study, the Short Resilience Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Body Image Scale and the Demographic Information Form were used as data collection tools. Data were analysed with Multiple Regression Analyses and Independent Samples T-test methods. Findings of the study revealed that general self-efficacy beliefs and body images were significant predictors of resilience levels of students. Besides, boys rated higher average scores in comparison to the girls; thus, general self-efficacy beliefs, body image and psychological resilience of boys were more positive than girls. The findings of the study were discussed in the light of relevant literature and recommendations were offered.