Investigating the mediating role of self-control in the relationship between coping styles and self-concept of elementary school students

The aim of the research was to investigate the mediating role of self-control in the relationship between coping styles and self-concept of elementary school students in Ardakan. The present study was descriptive-correlational which was performed using Path Analysis. The statistical population consisted of all first-grade male students in Ardakan. Using the cluster sampling method, 330 people were selected as the sample.  Data were collected using the Connor Smith Stress Management Styles Questionnaire (RSQ) (1997), Harter  Student Self-Concept (SPPC) (1985), and Grasmick et al.'s Self-Control Questionnaire (SCS) (1993)  and analyzed using Pearson correlation test and Path Analysis. Findings showed that the coping style of intentional coping directly and indirectly through self-control had a positive and significant relationship on self-concept (p <0.01).  Unintentional avoidance coping style had a direct negative relationship on self-concept but indirectly had a positive relationship on self-concept by increasing self-control (p<0.01). The unintentional coping style had a negative and significant relationship on self-concept indirectly through self-control and deliberate avoidance coping style had a negative and significant relationship on self-concept directly (p<0.01). Overall, the findings showed that self-control can play a significant mediating role in the relationship between coping styles and self-concept in elementary school students.