The Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem on the Relationship Between Job Satisfaction, Leisure Satisfaction, and Quality of Life Among Korean Police Officers

Background/Objectives: This study was to determine how self-esteem mediates the relationships between leisure satisfaction, job satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL) among Korean police officers. In addition, the purpose is to comprehensively understand the quality of life of police officers by confirming the influence of variables affecting the quality of life of police officers and the direct and indirect effects of each variable and to provide scientific basis data for the application of intervention programs to improve the quality of life. Methods: The study was conducted with police officers working in three police stations in K Metropolitan City and J Province from August 1 to 20, 2024. Data collected were analyzed using the PROCESS Macro (Model 6), which assessed the significance of indirect effects and the variations across mediation pathways. Results: When looking at factors affecting QoL, self-esteem had statistically significant direct and total effects (γ = 0.115, p = 0.001). Leisure satisfaction was found to have a statistically significant total effect (γ = 0.296, p < 0.001) due to the direct effect (γ = 0.273, p < 0.001) and indirect effect (γ = 0.023, p < 0.05) on QoL. In addition, job satisfaction was found to have a statistically significant total effect (γ = 0.450, p < 0.001) due to the direct effect (γ = 0.416, p < 0.001) and indirect effect (γ = 0.034, p < 0.05) on QoL. Conclusions: These results emphasize the necessity of developing programs aimed at increasing the QoL and mental health of police officers by exploiting these relational dynamics. In addition, the fact that self-esteem played a mediating role in the quality of life among each variable suggests that it is necessary to develop and apply programs to improve self-esteem.