A Research Investigating the Role of Perceived Self-Efficacy in the Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Stress Coping Mechanisms

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of young adults’ perceived self-efficacy in the relationship between their perceptions of social support and stress coping mechanisms. The research group consists of 429 students of sports sciences enrolled in Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty of Sports Sciences as of 2017-2018 spring semester. The findings show that all three subscales of perceived social support are positively and moderately correlated with effective coping mechanisms. Findings also reveal the significant interactive effect of perceived social support and general self-efficacy on effective coping mechanisms. This finding provides evidence that general self-efficacy has a moderating role in the relationship between social support and effective coping mechanisms. In conclusion, young adults resort to effective coping mechanisms more frequently if they perceive their families, friends and significant others’ support. General self-efficacy plays a moderating role in this relationship