Self-esteem and psychological well-being as predictors of life satisfaction among university students in southern Peru: a cross-sectional predictive study.

BACKGROUND

Self-esteem and psychological well-being are fundamental pillars of individuals' integral development, especially during the university stage, when students face multiple personal challenges and intense academic demands.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether self-esteem and psychological well-being predicted life satisfaction among university students in southern Peru.

METHOD: The sample of 506 university students, aged 18 to 30 years (M = 22.1; SD = 2.84), participated in this cross-sectional predictive study. The data were collected from three universities in southern Peru via non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The instruments were the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the BIEPS-A Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adults, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Hierarchical regression showed that psychological well-being dimensions (ΔR²=0.426) and self-esteem (ΔR²=0.157) significantly predicted life satisfaction, explaining 59.6% of the variance, while sociodemographic variables showed no significant contribution (R²=0.013,p = 0.240). Self-esteem was the strongest predictor in the final model (unstandardized B = 0.363, SE = 0.026, β = 0.572,p < 0.001), followed by the psychological well-being dimension of social bonds (B = 0.424,SE = 0.087,β = 0.185,p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The self-esteem and psychological well-being dimensions are significant predictors of life satisfaction among university students in southern Peru, with self-esteem also operating as a mediating mechanism linking psychological well-being to life satisfaction.