The Self-Esteem, Perceived Social Support and Hopelessness in Adolescents: The Structural Equation Modeling

In this study, a developed model to explain a causal relationship between adolescent's self-esteem, perceived social support and hopelessness is tested. The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between self-esteem, perceived social support and hopelessness in adolescents. A total of 257 adolescents, including 143 female and 114 male, participated in attending different high schools in the Burdur city center. The Beck Hopelessness Scale, The Social Support Appraisals Scale for Children and Adolescents and The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory were used to gather data. The Structural Equation Model/Lisrel/Path Diagram/Windows and SPSS were used to analyze the data. First, measurement models for each of the variables were explored. Then, computed variables were used in structural equation modeling that examined relationships among latent variables. The results of a Structural Equation Model Test was showed that fit compatibility indices of the model, produced a good compatibility and the coefficients obtained were significant. According to the result the structural model, the findings indicated that a causal relationship was between adolescent self-esteem, perceived social support and hopelessness. In this study, it was seen that the results obtained are of explanatory equation because the study is intended for establishing a new model rather than testing a previously existing model.