How would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on Chinese culture? A qualitative research from the perspective of college students
Abstract Background Promoting college students’ mental health remains a significant concern, necessitating a clear understanding of what constitutes good mental health. Variations in the conceptualizations of mental health across cultures, typically derived from academic and authoritative perspectiv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01689-7 |
| _version_ | 1797199126957391872 |
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| author | Mingjia Guo Xiaoming Jia Wenqian Wang |
| author_facet | Mingjia Guo Xiaoming Jia Wenqian Wang |
| author_sort | Mingjia Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Promoting college students’ mental health remains a significant concern, necessitating a clear understanding of what constitutes good mental health. Variations in the conceptualizations of mental health across cultures, typically derived from academic and authoritative perspectives, have overlooked insights from laypeople. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of mentally healthy college students within Chinese cultural contexts, emphasizing perspectives provided by college students themselves. Methods Undergraduates with self-reported mental health scores ≥ 7 were randomly selected for in-depth interviews. The sample (N = 17, 59% female) had a mean age of 20.82 ± 1.33 years and represented diverse regions, backgrounds, and academic fields. Thematic analysis was used in the analysis of the qualitative data, involving initial coding to identify 168 manifestations of mental health among college students, followed by categorizing them into 18 characteristics through focused coding. These characteristics were then organized into five themes via core coding. The Delphi method was utilized to validate the themes with 3 experts, ensuring the trustworthiness of the final findings. Results Eighteen characteristics of mentally healthy college students emerged from the interviews, categorized into 5 themes: (1)Value Pursuit (i.e. Having a sense of responsibility and mission and being willing to dedicate oneself to the country at any time.); (2)Life Attitude (i.e. Staying positive and having the ability and quality to cope with hardships.); (3)Interpersonal Ideals (i.e., Showing filial respect to parents appropriately.); (4)Behavior Ability(i.e., Studying diligently and learning well.); and (5)Self-cultivation (i.e., Possessing good qualities advocated by Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist harmoniously.). Most of these characteristics directly reflect traditional Chinese culture or culture that has changed with the times. At the same time, some are a reflection of modern Chinese new culture. Conclusions On the whole, the characteristics of mentally healthy college students are diverse and with rich connotations, focusing on the individual’s relationship with the country, family, and others, and are good expressions of Chinese cultural features, such as the balance of Yin and Yang, the coexistence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and highlight moral attributes. In essence, these traits hold profound importance in advancing the mental health of Chinese college students. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:10:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7316cc7174df4c6a9466c639c7f5a5e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:10:48Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7316cc7174df4c6a9466c639c7f5a5e82024-04-21T11:34:18ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832024-04-0112112110.1186/s40359-024-01689-7How would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on Chinese culture? A qualitative research from the perspective of college studentsMingjia Guo0Xiaoming Jia1Wenqian Wang2School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Institute of TechnologySchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Institute of TechnologySchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Institute of TechnologyAbstract Background Promoting college students’ mental health remains a significant concern, necessitating a clear understanding of what constitutes good mental health. Variations in the conceptualizations of mental health across cultures, typically derived from academic and authoritative perspectives, have overlooked insights from laypeople. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of mentally healthy college students within Chinese cultural contexts, emphasizing perspectives provided by college students themselves. Methods Undergraduates with self-reported mental health scores ≥ 7 were randomly selected for in-depth interviews. The sample (N = 17, 59% female) had a mean age of 20.82 ± 1.33 years and represented diverse regions, backgrounds, and academic fields. Thematic analysis was used in the analysis of the qualitative data, involving initial coding to identify 168 manifestations of mental health among college students, followed by categorizing them into 18 characteristics through focused coding. These characteristics were then organized into five themes via core coding. The Delphi method was utilized to validate the themes with 3 experts, ensuring the trustworthiness of the final findings. Results Eighteen characteristics of mentally healthy college students emerged from the interviews, categorized into 5 themes: (1)Value Pursuit (i.e. Having a sense of responsibility and mission and being willing to dedicate oneself to the country at any time.); (2)Life Attitude (i.e. Staying positive and having the ability and quality to cope with hardships.); (3)Interpersonal Ideals (i.e., Showing filial respect to parents appropriately.); (4)Behavior Ability(i.e., Studying diligently and learning well.); and (5)Self-cultivation (i.e., Possessing good qualities advocated by Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist harmoniously.). Most of these characteristics directly reflect traditional Chinese culture or culture that has changed with the times. At the same time, some are a reflection of modern Chinese new culture. Conclusions On the whole, the characteristics of mentally healthy college students are diverse and with rich connotations, focusing on the individual’s relationship with the country, family, and others, and are good expressions of Chinese cultural features, such as the balance of Yin and Yang, the coexistence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and highlight moral attributes. In essence, these traits hold profound importance in advancing the mental health of Chinese college students.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01689-7College studentsMental healthQualitative researchMental health promotionChinese culture |
| spellingShingle | Mingjia Guo Xiaoming Jia Wenqian Wang How would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on Chinese culture? A qualitative research from the perspective of college students BMC Psychology College students Mental health Qualitative research Mental health promotion Chinese culture |
| title | How would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on Chinese culture? A qualitative research from the perspective of college students |
| title_full | How would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on Chinese culture? A qualitative research from the perspective of college students |
| title_fullStr | How would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on Chinese culture? A qualitative research from the perspective of college students |
| title_full_unstemmed | How would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on Chinese culture? A qualitative research from the perspective of college students |
| title_short | How would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on Chinese culture? A qualitative research from the perspective of college students |
| title_sort | how would you describe a mentally healthy college student based on chinese culture a qualitative research from the perspective of college students |
| topic | College students Mental health Qualitative research Mental health promotion Chinese culture |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-01689-7 |
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