Perceived Stress, Hope, and Life Satisfaction Among College Students: A Two-Wave, Half-Longitudinal Study from Turkey

Researchers have long been interested in the research of perceived stress, hope, and life satisfaction. While cross-sectional studies have investigated the associations between these variables, the lack of their simultaneous consideration, particularly the mediating role of hope, in longitudinal research has left a gap in the existing literature. However, understanding these patterns throughout over time can be critical for developing successful practices and interventions to enhance well-being. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the longitudinal relationships between perceived stress, hope, and satisfaction with life. We conducted a two-wave cross-lagged panel study to examine whether hope acts as a mediator in the association between perceived stress and satisfaction with life. Data were collected using a two-wave design from 293 college students at Time 1 (T1) in March 2023 and 250 students at Time 2 (T2) in June 2023. The analyses were conducted using data from the 250 students (mean age = 21.66, SD = 3.37) who participated in both T1 and T2. The findings revealed that hope mediated the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction, indicating that higher levels of perceived stress predicted significantly lower levels of hope, which, in turn, resulted in notably lower life satisfaction. These results highlight the critical role of hope as a protective factor against the detrimental effects of stress on life satisfaction. Understanding these pathways has practical implications for developing interventions to improve life satisfaction and mental health among college students.