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Moderating Effects of Gender and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Self-esteem and Life Satisfaction in Chinese University Students

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Abstract

This study examined both the moderator effects of loneliness and gender on the relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction in Chinese university students. 615 college students completed the measures of loneliness, self-esteem and life satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that loneliness moderated the association between self-esteem and life satisfaction. When students reported a low level of loneliness, those with high self-esteem reported higher scores in life satisfaction than those with low self-esteem. However, the high and low self-esteem group had low level of life satisfaction when loneliness was high. Moreover, gender also moderated the link between self-esteem and life satisfaction. Self-esteem tended to be a more significant determinant of life satisfaction in the females than the males. The significance and limitations of the results are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

    Yongquan Huo

  2. State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

    Feng Kong

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  1. Yongquan Huo
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  2. Feng Kong
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Correspondence to Feng Kong.

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Huo, Y., Kong, F. Moderating Effects of Gender and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Self-esteem and Life Satisfaction in Chinese University Students. Soc Indic Res 118, 305–314 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0404-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0404-x

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