The role of self-worth in mediating the influence of fairness on psychological wellbeing of senior high school students

This study examines the role of self-worth as a mediator in the relationship between fairness and psychological wellbeing among senior high school students. A total of 400 senior high school students from Central Java participated in this research through an online survey utilizing the Student Fairness Scale, Self-Worth Scale, and Psychological Wellbeing Scale instruments. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results demonstrated that fairness had a significant positive effect on psychological wellbeing (? = 0.31, p < 0.001). Fairness also exerted a significant effect on self-worth (? = 0.47, p < 0.001), while self-worth exhibited a strong positive influence on psychological wellbeing (? = 0.52, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that self-worth partially mediates the relationship between fairness and psychological wellbeing, with an indirect effect of 0.24 (p < 0.001), accounting for 43% of the total effect. These findings confirm that the perception of fairness in the school environment not only directly enhances students’ psychological wellbeing but also strengthens their sense of self-worth, which ultimately improves psychological wellbeing. The implications of this research underscore the necessity of integrating character education based on fairness principles and self-worth enhancement strategies within school counseling programs..