Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice

ISSN: 2630-5984

Personality and Social Problem-Solving: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem

Nermin Koruklu
Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling, Adnan Menderes University, Merkez, Aydin 09100 Turkey

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine direct and indirect relationships among personality, selfesteem and social problem-solving, as well as the mediating role of self-esteem in the link between personality and social problem-solving among Turkish youth. The study utilized a cross-sectional design comprising several self-reports. Data for the present study were collected from 687 undergraduate students. The participants included 428 (66%) females and 220 (34%) males, and their ages ranged from 18 to 35years, with a mean of 22.46 years (SD = 2.45). Findings illustrated that extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness and self-esteem were significantly and positively correlated with social problem-solving, whereas neuroticism showed a negative correlation. Self-esteem is significantly and positively associated with extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness and social problem-solving, and it appears to act as a mediator in the relationship between personality and social problem-solving. The findings indicated that personality and selfesteem directly affected social problem-solving, and personality also indirectly affected social problem-solving through self-esteem. In conclusion, personality and self-esteem were found to be significantly related to social problem-solving among Turkish youth.

Keywords
Social problem-solving, Personality, Self-Esteem.