The Role of Proximal and Distal Resilience Factors and Locus of Control in Understanding Hope, Self-Esteem and Academic Achievement among Turkish Pre-adolescents

Abstract

The current study provides an important step in determining the relations among resilience, hope, self esteem, locus of control and academic achievement. Our sample is composed of 1,169 male junior soccer players selected via nationwide sports selection program. We have employed a cross-sectional research design to assess the relationship between variables by using structural equation modeling. Our results suggested that personal factors, familial resilience, and society but not peers serve as protective factors for elevating hope, self-esteem and finally academic achievement for pre-adolescent children. We have also found that resilience have differential effects when combined with an internal locus of control supporting Masten and Reed (2002)'s argument that resilience comes from operations of ordinary human systems. In addition, culture has become an important ingredient in the complex relationships between certain predictors and their outcomes and it is almost impossible not to consider its determining role in those relationships and contexts.