The mediating role of perceived control and hopelessness in the relation between personal belief in a just world and life satisfaction

This study investigates the mediating role of perceived control and hopelessness in the relation between personal belief in a just world (BJW) and life satisfaction. Cross-sectional questionnaire data were obtained from 353 Turkish university students. Results of the study were consistent with our expectations that personal BJW was associated with increased life satisfaction. The results also showed that as personal BJW increased, perceived control of an individual also increased but hopelessness decreased. In addition, increased perceived control and decreased hopelessness were associated with increased life satisfaction. Moreover, personal BJW was significantly associated with increased life satisfaction after controlling for perceived control and hopelessness. Further, both perceived control and hopelessness uniquely mediated the association between personal BJW and life satisfaction. Personal BJW tended to increase life satisfaction uniquely through both increased perceived control and decreased hopelessness. Finally, personal BJW increased perceived control, which in turn decreased hopelessness and subsequently increased life satisfaction. Implications are discussed.