خلاصة:
Background: Improving the quality of life of students has become one of the main educational concerns. Therefore, the present study investigated the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between perceived social support and the quality of life of physical education students.
Methods: This research is part of an intra-university research project at the Shahrood University of Technology and has an ethical code number IR.SHAHROODUT.REC.1401.022. In terms of practical purpose, in terms of data collection method, it was descriptive-correlation and structural equation modeling. The statistical population was all physical education students of Urmia University in the academic year 2022-2023, and 157 people were selected as a sample. To measure the research variables, Zimet et al.'s perceived social support questionnaires (1988), the World Health Organization's quality of life (1996), and Rosenberg's self-esteem (1965) were used. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were confirmed. Data analysis was done with the structural equation modeling method and Smart PLS 2 software.
Results: The results showed that perceived social support directly and positively affects the quality of life. Perceived social support directly and positively affects self-esteem. Self-esteem directly and positively affects the quality of life. Also, self-esteem has been able to play a mediating role between perceived social support and quality of life.
Conclusion: Therefore, it is suggested that the families of the students as well as the relevant officials should provide the necessary support to the students in this challenging period so that students have a good quality of life in this critical period of their lives.