Optimism, Social Identity, Mental Health: Findings Form Tibetan College Students in China

Social identity runs through the whole life of an individual, and it provides a framework to help individuals form a value guide adapted to their survival and development in different social situations and multiple roles. This study aimed to explore the mediating effect of social identity on the relationship between optimism and mental health among 659 Tibetan college students in China. We used the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Positive Affect Scale and developed a tool to assess optimism, which included three subscales measuring optimistic tendency, pessimistic tendency, and self-efficacy optimism. In addition, we have developed a social identity scale for Tibetan college students in China. Results indicated that the optimism of Tibetan college students in China had a significant positive impact on their mental health and that social identity can affect their optimism to further improve their mental health. These findings provide guidance for implementing psychological interventions aimed at enhancing undergraduates’ mental health.