Psychological sense of community as mediator and growth mindset as moderator in the impact of institutional integrity and perceived teacher support on student thriving: Evidence from private universities in China
2024

Psychological Sense of Community and Student Thriving in Chinese Private Universities

Sample size: 1792 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Jiang Yujun, Liu Huying, Ouyang Zhiqun, Xie Meng, Wei Shihang

Primary Institution: School of Language and Culture, Swan College, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China

Hypothesis

Psychological sense of community among students in Chinese private universities positively affects student thriving.

Conclusion

The study found that psychological sense of community mediates the effects of institutional integrity and perceived teacher support on student thriving.

Supporting Evidence

  • Psychological sense of community accounted for 32% of the variance in student thriving.
  • Perceived teacher support significantly impacts student thriving.
  • Growth mindset moderates the relationship between institutional integrity and student thriving.

Takeaway

This study shows that feeling connected to others at school helps students do better, especially when they feel supported by their teachers and their school is trustworthy.

Methodology

The study used an online survey and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data from 1792 students.

Potential Biases

Self-reported data may be influenced by social desirability bias.

Limitations

The study relied on self-reported questionnaires, which may introduce bias, and focused only on bachelor’s degree students from four private universities in China.

Participant Demographics

Participants included 944 females and 848 males, primarily aged 18-22, from four private universities in China.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0312338

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