Direct and Indirect Effects of Self-efficacy on Depression: The Mediating Role of Dispositional Optimism

In this study, we aimed to explore the impact of self-efficacy on depression - specifically, to test and verify the mediating role of dispositional optimism between the two variables. Five hundred and thirty-five undergraduates from two universities were recruited and given a Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Revised Life Orientation Test, and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Results indicated that there are indeed significant relationships among self-efficacy, dispositional optimism, and each identified dimension of depression; structural equation modeling showed that the relationship between self-efficacy and depression is partially mediated by dispositional optimism. To this effect, we concluded that to develop and improve students' self-efficacy will reduce their levels of depression, which may have implications in college counseling.
Author(s): Jun Pu [sup.1] , Hanpo Hou [sup.2] , Ruiyang Ma [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) Center for Finance and Accounting Research, University of International Business and Economics, grid.443284.d, , No.10, [...]