University students' mental well-being during COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of resilience between meaning in life and mental well-being

• Published in: Acta psychologica 2022-07, Vol.227, p.103618-103618, Article 103618
• Main Authors: Rasheed, Nisma, Fatima, Iram, Tariq, Omama
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Meaning in life; Mental well-being; Pandemics; Presence of meaning in life; Resilience; SARS-CoV-2; Search for meaning in life; Students; Universities; University students; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0001-6918; 1873-6297; 1873-6297
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103618

The current study aims to examine (a) the mental well-being of university students, who were taking online classes, and (b) and test whether resilience would mediate the relationship between meaning in life and mental well-being. The sample of 302 university students (Mage = 20.25 years; 36.1% men, 63.9% women) was taken from the universities of Punjab, Pakistan. The participants were recruited online and they completed a cross-sectional survey comprising the scales of meaning in life, resilience, and mental well-being during COVID-19. Findings from the study indicated that participants had a normal to a satisfactory level of overall mental wellbeing during COVID-19. Resilience acted as a mediator for both the presence of meaning in life, the search for meaning in life, and mental well-being. Demographic variables including family size were significantly and positively related to resilience while the availability of personal room showed a significant positive relationship with mental well-being. These findings suggest that meaning in life and resilience supports mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and that effective steps should be taken to make the lives of university students more meaningful and resilient.