An Analysis of Self-Esteem and Perceived Social Support as Determinants of Psychological Well-being among Young Adults.

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between self-esteem and perceived social support with psychological well-being among young adults. Young adulthood is a critical developmental phase marked by identity formation, academic pressures, and evolving social roles, making psychological well-being a central concern during this period. Self-esteem — an individual's overall appraisal of self-worth — and perceived social support — the subjective sense of emotional and practical assistance from family, friends, and significant others — have been widely identified as key protective psychological factors. The study was conducted on young adults (aged 18–25 years) from Jammu District using a cross-sectional correlational research design. Purposive sampling was employed to select the sample. Three standardized tools were administered: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale. Pearson's product-moment correlation and independent samples t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results revealed significant positive correlations among all three variables. Self-esteem showed a moderate-to-strong positive correlation with psychological well-being (r = .54, p < .01), and perceived social support was also significantly positively correlated with psychological well-being (r = .48, p < .01). Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between self-esteem and perceived social support (r = .42, p < .01). Gender comparison indicated differences in psychological well-being between male and female young adults. The findings underscore the importance of fostering self-esteem and strengthening social support networks as key strategies for enhancing the mental health and overall well-being of young adults.