Neuroticism and Psychosocial Stressors of Trauma in University Students: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem and Self-Appraisal of Trauma

The current study aimed to find out the mediating role of anxious self-esteem and self-appraisal of trauma in the relationship of neuroticism and psycho-social stressors of trauma in a sample of 213 (men = 31%, women = 68%) between the ages of 18 to 26 (M = 20.78, SD = 2.46). Participants were selected by using a purposive sampling strategy studying in private and government universities of Lahore, Pakistan. Neuroticism vs. Emotional Stability Scale (John et al., 1991), Anxious/ Withdrawn Self-esteem Scale for University Population (Zafar et al., 2012), Psychosocial Stressors of Trauma scale (PSST) (Rani et al., 2021), and Self-Appraisal Scale (Rani et al., 2021) were used to assess the neuroticism vs. emotional stability, anxious self-esteem, self-appraisal of trauma and psycho-social stressors of trauma in university students. Findings of correlation analysis depicted the interrelatedness of neuroticism, anxious self-esteem, self-appraisal of trauma, and psycho-social stressors. Mediation analysis suggested the serial mediating role of anxious self-esteem and self-appraisal of trauma in the association of neuroticism vs. emotional stability and PSST in university students. These findings might be used to overcome the adverse outcomes of trauma in University students.