A Path Analysis of Promotion Factors of Mental Health

The purpose of this study is to determine if the model proposed to explain the effect of coping responses in stress that could promote mental health, fit the population of the Iranian university students. This study used path analysis to examine the Goodness-of-fit of the mediating effect of coping responses on stress in promoting mental health among Iranian undergraduate students. Three hundred and twenty-six students took part in the study. A community survey was conducted and the students completed a set of measures that assessed stress level, Coping Responses and Mental Health. Findings from the study show that the fit indices for this model are excellent. The RMSEA was 0.06, and the GFI and AGFI were 0.92 and 0.93, respectively. Approach responses (r=--0.24) and avoidant responses (r=0.28) were shown to have direct effect on Mental Health. All paths were significant at p 0.05. Correlational results demonstrated that inter-intra personal stress had significant inverse relationship with approach responses and positive relationship with avoidance responses.