The main purpose of this study is to test the mediation model of the relationship between self-esteem and risk-taking behavior among Turkish university students, and the hypothesis of the study is that there is a negative relationship between these two variables and this relationship is mediated by life satisfaction and psychological resilience. Pearson correlation analysis was performed between the main variables of the study and then indirect effect analyzes and path analysis were implemented. When the indirect effects between the variables were examined, it was seen that the self-liking, sub-dimension of self-esteem has a significant indirect effect on suicide tendency (B=-.10, 95% CI [-.22, -.09], p=.001), eating habits (B=-.09, 95% CI [-0.14, -.05], p=.001) and school dropout (B=-.07, 95% CI [-.06, -.02], p=.006) through life satisfaction. Self-liking reduces suicidal tendencies, unhealthy eating habits and school dropouts by increasing students' life satisfaction. When the direct effects between the variables were examined, it was seen that self-liking, a sub-dimension of self-esteem, positively predicted resilience (B=.39, p<.001) and life satisfaction (B=.32, p<.001). At the same time, self-liking negatively and strongly predicted suicidal tendency (B=-.69, p<.001). Additionally, resilience predicted suicidal tendency negatively and significantly (B=-.30, p<.01). Life satisfaction predicted suicidal tendency (B=-.47, p<.001), eating habits (B=-.29, p<.001) and school dropout (B=-.12, p<.01) significantly and negatively. Our hypothesis was partially supported by the findings of the study. Self-esteem did not predict all risk-taking behaviors in the study. Besides that, resilience and life satisfaction have partial mediator roles in the relationship between self-esteem and risk-taking behavior. Keywords:
Positive psychology, risk-taking, health psychology, self-esteem