The Role of Emotional Exhaustion and Mental Toughness in Predicting Psychological Wellbeing in Adolescents

Objective: This cross-sectional correlational study investigated the associations between emotional exhaustion, mental toughness (also referred to as psychological hardiness), and psychological wellbeing among Iranian adolescents. Methods: We selected a sample of ۲۴۱ high school students (aged ۱۵–۱۸ y; ۵۳.۱% female) from Isfahan City, Iran, through multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants completed the ۱۸-item short form of Ryff’s psychological wellbeing scale (α=۰.۸۳), the emotional exhaustion scale (α=۰.۸۴), and the psychological hardiness scale (α=۰.۸۵). Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression in SPSS software, version ۲۶. Results: Emotional exhaustion was negatively associated with psychological wellbeing (r=-۰.۴۴, P<۰.۰۱), while mental toughness showed a positive association (r=۰.۴۳, P<۰.۰۱), with the control dimension demonstrating the strongest correlation (r=۰.۴۹, P<۰.۰۱). Emotional exhaustion and mental toughness together accounted for ۲۶% of the variance in wellbeing (R²=۰.۲۶, F=۴۲.۶۷, P<۰.۰۰۱). Both were significantly associated with all ۶ dimensions of psychological wellbeing. Conclusion: Findings suggest that emotional exhaustion is a risk factor and mental toughness a protective resource. Strengthening the sense of control may buffer negative associations. However, because the study is cross-sectional, causal inferences cannot be made, and the modest explained variance suggests other important factors. Generalizability is limited to similar Iranian high school populations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Psychological wellbeing ، Emotional exhaustion ، Mental toughness ، Psychological hardiness ، Adolescents