Cai Yaoyao, Zhan Danling
Mental Health Education and Counseling Center, Shaoguan University, No. 288, Daxue Road, Zhenjiang District, Shaoguan City, 512005, Guangdong Province, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 22;15(1):30917. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-16688-w.
According to the China National Mental Health Development Report (2021-2022), only 46.7% of Chinese university students report experiencing meaning in life (MIL), while approximately 40% exhibit existential confusion, highlighting a critical psychological challenge. This study examines, in Chinese college students, how connectedness (to self, others, and nature) relates to meaning in life and whether basic psychological needs mediate these associations, integrating variable- and person-centered approaches. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 807 college students (mean age = 19.40 ± 1.25 years, 75.22% female) from colleges in Guangdong Province, China. Participants completed validated scales assessing connectedness to self (mindfulness), others (social connectedness), and nature, along with basic psychological needs and MIL. Both variable-centered (parallel mediation analysis) and person-centered (latent profile analysis) approaches were employed to provide complementary perspectives on the research questions. Variable-centered analysis confirmed mediation by basic psychological needs across all connectedness dimensions, with competence satisfaction showing the strongest effect (β = 0.20, 95% CI [0.13, 0.27]). Person-centered analysis identified three distinct connectedness profiles: Alienated Type (7.56%, characterized by low connectedness across dimensions), Moderated Type (65.43%, moderate connectedness levels), and Enriched Type (27.01%, high connectedness across all dimensions). Profile-based mediation analysis confirmed competence satisfaction as the primary mediator, with the Enriched Type showing the strongest indirect effect relative to the Alienated Type (β = 0.60, 95% CI [0.38, 0.84]). Our findings demonstrate that competence satisfaction is the primary mechanism linking multifaceted connectedness to MIL in Chinese college students. The distinct profiles underscore the need for tailored interventions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. This study extends self-determination theory by revealing how integrated connectedness patterns foster MIL, offering a novel framework for targeted well-being initiatives for Chinese college students.
根据《中国国民心理健康发展报告（2021—2022）》，只有46.7%的中国大学生表示体验过生活意义，而约40%的学生表现出存在困惑，这凸显了一个严峻的心理挑战。本研究采用变量中心和个体中心相结合的方法，在中国大学生中考察了（与自我、他人和自然的）联结感如何与生活意义相关，以及基本心理需求是否在这些关联中起中介作用。对来自中国广东省各高校的807名大学生（平均年龄=19.40±1.25岁，75.22%为女性）进行了一项横断面研究。参与者完成了经过验证的量表，评估与自我的联结感（正念）、与他人的联结感（社会联结）、与自然的联结感，以及基本心理需求和生活意义。采用变量中心法（平行中介分析）和个体中心法（潜在剖面分析），为研究问题提供互补视角。变量中心分析证实了基本心理需求在所有联结维度上的中介作用，能力满足感的影响最强（β=0.20，95%CI[0.13，0.27]）。个体中心分析确定了三种不同的联结剖面：疏离型（7.56%，各维度联结感低）、适度型（65.43%，联结感中等）和丰富型（27.01%，所有维度联结感高）。基于剖面的中介分析证实能力满足感是主要中介变量，丰富型相对于疏离型显示出最强的间接效应（β=0.60，95%CI[0.38，0.84]）。我们的研究结果表明，能力满足感是中国大学生多方面联结感与生活意义之间联系的主要机制。不同的剖面强调了需要量身定制的干预措施，而不是一刀切的方法。本研究通过揭示整合的联结模式如何促进生活意义，扩展了自我决定理论，为针对中国大学生的幸福计划提供了一个新的框架。
