{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T06:09:39Z","timestamp":1789711779957,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789689600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Grounded in Second Wave Positive Psychology (PP2.0), this study conceptualizes resilient mindset as a positive cognitive schema associated with the internalization of external relational and existential resources, rather than merely a static adaptive outcome. It examines how perceived social support is associated with resilient mindset among undergraduates through a sequential mechanism involving self-efficacy and meaning in life, thereby examining the proposed pathway from social resources to resilient cognition.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional design was employed with 764 undergraduates recruited from four universities in China. Standardized instruments measuring perceived social support, self-efficacy, meaning in life, and resilient mindset were administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and Hayes\u2019 PROCESS macro (Model 6). A bias-corrected bootstrap procedure with 5,000 resamples was used to test the sequential mediation model representing a \u201cresource\u2014agency\u2014existential integration\u2014schema formation\u201d pathway.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Perceived social support significantly predicted resilient mindset. Both self-efficacy and meaning in life independently mediated this relationship. More importantly, a significant sequential mediation was identified, wherein self-efficacy was associated with meaning in life, which in turn was associated with resilient mindset. When mediators were included, the direct effect of perceived social support on resilient mindset became non-significant, indicating that the association is largely accounted for by the indirect pathways through self-efficacy and meaning in life.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The findings advance PP2.0 by positioning resilience not as an outcome of adaptation, but as a higher-order cognitive associated with the integration of social and existential resources. The supported sequential pathway (\u201cperceived social support \u2192 self-efficacy \u2192 meaning in life \u2192 resilient mindset\u201d) specifies a theoretically integrated mechanism in which agency-based confidence is associated with existential meaning-making, jointly culminating in resilient cognition. This study shifts resilience research from outcome description to generative explanation, offering a structural model of resilient cognition under conditions of social uncertainty.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1882711","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T05:38:34Z","timestamp":1789709914000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Perceived social support and resilient mindset among Chinese undergraduates: the chain mediating roles of self-efficacy and meaning in life"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Kuan-Ling","family":"Lin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Education, Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ying","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University","place":["Jinhua, China"]},{"name":"School of Art, Yango University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1391312","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2024.1391312","article-title":"Resilience after adversity: an umbrella review of adversity protective factors and resilience-promoting interventions","volume":"15","author":"Abate","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Psych."},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.1037\/0003-066X.55.5.469","article-title":"Emerging adulthood: a theory of development from the late teens through the twenties","volume":"55","author":"Arnett","year":"2000","journal-title":"Am. Psychol."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2475","DOI":"10.1007\/s12187-023-10063-9","article-title":"My parents inspire me to succeed: enhancing academic well-being through resilient mindset and mental toughness","volume":"16","author":"Arslan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Child Indic. Res."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1633","DOI":"10.1177\/00332941221139721","article-title":"Coronavirus-related stressors, resilient mindset, loneliness, depressive symptoms in college students: testing a moderated mediation model","volume":"127","author":"Arslan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Psychol. Rep."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.47602\/johah.v4i1.53","article-title":"Embracing life\u2019s challenges: developing a tool for assessing resilient mindset in second wave positive psychology","volume":"4","author":"Arslan","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Happiness Health"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1696860","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2025.1696860","article-title":"Well-being in the post-pandemic era: the role of meaning in life and resilience","volume":"16","author":"Baykal","year":"2026","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1007\/s10902-026-01008-4","article-title":"Social support and meaning in life: a meta-analysis","volume":"27","author":"Cai","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Happiness Stud."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"604","DOI":"10.16128\/j.cnki.1005-3611.2015.04.009","article-title":"Applicability and generalizability of the revised meaning in life questionnaire: based on classical test theory and multidimensional Rasch model","volume":"23","author":"Chen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Chin. J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"811","DOI":"10.1080\/17439760.2025.2509984","article-title":"Psychological resilience as striving to preserve oneself: on the possibility of a \u201cpositive\u201d existential psychology","volume":"20","author":"Churchill","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Posit. Psychol."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1306257","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1306257","article-title":"Physical exercise can enhance meaning in life of college students: the chain mediating role of self-efficacy and life satisfaction","volume":"14","author":"Guo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"443","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780190941512.003.0020","volume-title":"Young adult Development at the school-to-work transition: International Pathways and Processes","author":"Halstead","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1474","DOI":"10.1002\/pits.23122","article-title":"The association between perceived social support and resilience among Chinese university students: a moderated mediation model","volume":"61","author":"Hou","year":"2023","journal-title":"Psychol. Sch."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.51214\/00202305514000","article-title":"Perceived social support, academic self-efficacy, and anxiety among final year undergraduate students: a mediation analysis","volume":"5","author":"Laksmiwati","year":"2023","journal-title":"Bull. Counseling Psychother."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70077","DOI":"10.1002\/ijop.70077","article-title":"Relationship between meaning in life and resilience: a longitudinal study and a randomised controlled trial intervention","volume":"60","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Psychol."},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2025277","DOI":"10.22521\/edupij.2025.16.277","article-title":"The role of mental toughness and positive psychological capital in the effect of perceived social support on student resilience","volume":"16","author":"Martono","year":"2025","journal-title":"Educ. Process Int. J."},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"607","DOI":"10.1007\/s10775-023-09617-8","article-title":"Career anxiety as a barrier to life satisfaction among undergraduate students: the role of meaning in life and self-efficacy","volume":"25","author":"M\u00fcceldili","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Educ. Vocat. Guid."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"603","DOI":"10.1080\/10615806.2020.1800655","article-title":"Meaning in life and resilience to stressors","volume":"33","author":"Ostafin","year":"2020","journal-title":"Anxiety Stress Coping"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"a1913","DOI":"10.4102\/sajip.v48i0.1913","article-title":"Positive affect and resilience: exploring the role of self-efficacy and self-regulation. A serial mediation model","volume":"48","author":"Pillay","year":"2022","journal-title":"S. Afr. J. Ind. Psychol."},{"key":"ref19","volume-title":"Skalen zur Erfassung von Lehrer- und Sch\u00fclermerkmalen: Dokumentation der psychometrischen Verfahren im Rahmen der Wissenschaftlichen Begleitung des Modellversuchs Selbstwirksame Schulen","author":"Schwarzer","year":"1999"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-0167.53.1.80","article-title":"The meaning in life questionnaire: assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life","volume":"53","author":"Steger","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Couns. Psychol."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.3785\/1006-6020.2001.01.0037","article-title":"Evidences for reliability and validity of the Chinese version of general self-efficacy scale","volume":"7","author":"Wang","year":"2001","journal-title":"Chin. J. Appl. Psychol."},{"key":"ref22","first-page":"131","volume-title":"Handbook of Mental Health Assessment Scales","author":"Wang","year":"1999"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1119","DOI":"10.1007\/s10212-023-00725-1","article-title":"Subjective socioeconomic status predicts e-learning engagement in college students: the mediating role of perceived social support and self-efficacy","volume":"39","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eur. J. Psychol. Educ."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.1080\/09515070.2019.1671320","article-title":"Second wave positive psychology\u2019s (PP 2.0) contribution to counselling psychology","volume":"32","author":"Wong","year":"2019","journal-title":"Couns. Psychol. Q."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"565","DOI":"10.1080\/09540261.2020.1814703","article-title":"Existential positive psychology and integrative meaning therapy","volume":"32","author":"Wong","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. Rev. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"800308","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.800308","article-title":"Editorial: COVID-19 existential positive psychology (PP2.0): the new science of self-transcendence","volume":"12","author":"Wong","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.16187\/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2021.03.08","article-title":"Parent-adolescent attachment and peer attachment associated with hope: a longitudinal study of first-year college students","volume":"37","author":"Xiang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psychol. Dev. Educ."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"363","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-025-08967-6","article-title":"Perceived social support and meaning in life of adolescents: roles of psychological insecurity and psychological capital","volume":"45","author":"Yang","year":"2026","journal-title":"Curr. Psychol."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.16469\/j.css.201611005","article-title":"The effect of athletes' gratitude on burnout: chain mediating effects of social support and mental toughness","volume":"36","author":"Ye","year":"2016","journal-title":"Chin. Sport Sci."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"641","DOI":"10.1007\/s11482-023-10258-w","article-title":"Trajectories of self-control in emerging adulthood: implications for academic, psychological, and career development among Chinese college students","volume":"19","author":"Yi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Appl. Res. Qual. Life"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.47602\/jpsp.v5i2.229","article-title":"Social support, resilience and subjective well-being in college students","volume":"5","author":"Y\u0131ld\u0131r\u0131m","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Posit. Sch. Psychol."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1177\/0143034320973370","article-title":"Meaning in life, connectedness, academic self-efficacy, and personal self-efficacy: a winning combination","volume":"42","author":"Yuen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sch. Psychol. Int."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4647","DOI":"10.2147\/PRBM.S428397","article-title":"The effect of growth mindset on adolescents' meaning in life: the roles of self-efficacy and gratitude","volume":"16","author":"Zhao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Psychol. Res. Behav. Manag."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1057\/s41599-025-04424-8","article-title":"Meaning in life from a cultural perspective: the role of cultural identity, perceived social support, and resilience among Chinese college students","volume":"12","author":"Zhou","year":"2025","journal-title":"Humanit. Soc. Sci. Commun."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"610","DOI":"10.1080\/00223891.1990.9674095","article-title":"Psychometric characteristics of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support","volume":"55","author":"Zimet","year":"1990","journal-title":"J. Pers. Assess."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111110","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2021.111110","article-title":"The relationship of perceived social support to feelings of hopelessness under COVID-19 pandemic: the effects of epidemic risk and meaning in life","volume":"183","author":"Zuo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pers. Individ. Dif."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1882711\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T05:38:38Z","timestamp":1789709918000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1882711\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]]},"references-count":36,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1882711"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1882711","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]]},"article-number":"1882711"}}