Social Connectedness and Flourishing: The Mediating Role of Hopelessness

Abstract

In recent years, positive psychology has focused on flourishing; a combination of social and emotional well-being. For flourishing to function optimally, social environments as well as hopeful future expectation are crucial. It can be inferred that social connectedness and hope might be predictor of flourishing in early adulthood. This study aims at investigating the mediating effect of hopelessness on social connectedness and flourishing among university students. The participants were 260 university students (52.7% female, 47.3% male; M age = 21.8 yr., SD = 0.99) who filled a questionnaire package, consisting the Social Connectedness Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Flourishing Scale. The hypothesis tested the mediation effects of hopelessness between social connectedness and flourishing using structural equation modeling. The results of the analysis revealed the mediating role of hopelessness between social connectedness and flourishing. Findings were discussed in line with relevant literature and conclusions were made.