Trauma Coping Self-Efficacy and Happiness: The Serial Mediating Roles of Posttraumatic Growth and Posttraumatic Depreciation

This cross-sectional correlational study examined the direct and serial indirect associations between trauma coping self-efficacy (CSE-T) and happiness through posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) among undergraduate students exposed to the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes of February 6, 2023, in Türkiye. Participants were 282 undergraduate students aged 18–25 years (M = 20.83, SD = 1.75; 58.2% women). Data were collected using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire–Short Form, Trauma Coping Self-Efficacy Scale, and Short Form of the Posttraumatic Growth and Posttraumatic Depreciation Inventory–Expanded. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and PROCESS Model 6 serial mediation analysis were conducted. CSE-T was positively correlated with happiness (r = .397, p < .01) and PTG (r = .454, p < .01) and negatively correlated with PTD (r = −.403, p < .01). Its total association with happiness was positive (b = .216, p < .001, 95% CI [.157, .275]) and remained significant after PTG and PTD were included in the model (b = .091, p < .01, 95% CI [.029, .152]). The total indirect association was supported (b = .125, 95% CI [.080, .174]), including specific indirect associations through PTG (b = .033, 95% CI [.001, .069]), PTD (b = .069, 95% CI [.039, .104]), and PTG followed by PTD (b = .023, 95% CI [.009, .039]). The model explained 34 % of the variance in happiness. Greater CSE-T was associated with greater happiness both directly and indirectly through higher PTG and lower PTD; however, the cross-sectional design precludes causal or temporal conclusions.