Abstract
Objective: To examine the mediating role of fatigue in relationship between stress appraisal and psychopathological symptoms in university students.
Methodology: The convenient sample of this study included 1000 full-time regular and self-support students (graduates=500 and undergraduates=500) from the University of Sargodha. Gender was given equal representation. Stress Appraisal Measure, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire were used to assess stress appraisal, fatigue, and psychopathological symptoms, respectively. The data were analysed through SPSS version 26 and Process Macro 4.
Results: There was a significant correlation among variables in expected directions. Mediation analyses indicated the significant mediating role of fatigue in the relationship between psychopathological symptoms i.e. anxiety and depression.
Conclusion: Negative appraisal of academic stressors could create fatigue in university students, which could worsen their mental health. Faulty adaptation of stressors might arise somatic, cognitive, and emotional psychological conditions such as fatigue, anxiety, and depression.