The Synergistic Effect of Emotion and Cognition under Gender Regulation on College Students' Mental Health: An Intermediary Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility on the relationship between positive emotions, negative emotions, and mental health among college students. Utilizing a sample of 676 undergraduate students from four universities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, data were gathered through questionnaire surveys and subsequently analyzed using a range of statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, t-tests, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The results reveal that while no statistically significant gender differences were found in terms of positive emotions, negative emotions, or overall mental health among the participants, a notable gender disparity emerged in cognitive flexibility, with male students demonstrating significantly higher levels than their female counterparts. In terms of the underlying mechanisms, the study identified that both positive and negative emotions exert dual pathways on college students' mental health. Firstly, both types of emotions directly impact mental health. Secondly, they have indirect effects mediated through cognitive flexibility. Specifically, positive emotions enhance students' ability to adaptively adjust their cognitive frameworks in response to environmental changes, thereby significantly promoting mental well-being. Conversely, negative emotions impede the adaptation of cognitive frameworks to environmental shifts, leading to a decline in mental health. The findings of this study on the impact of positive emotions, negative emotions, and cognitive flexibility on college students' mental health provide crucial empirical evidence for the development of support programs aimed at enhancing student well-being. Furthermore, they offer valuable insights for the formulation of relevant policies and initiatives, with the potential to positively influence future practical applications in promoting mental health among college students.