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<p>Authenticity-related strain has been increasingly recognized as a factor associated with psychological distress; however, the processes underlying this association remain insufficiently understood among university students. This study examined the direct and indirect associations between authenticity-related strain and psychological distress among Chinese university students, with self-concept clarity and emotional suppression evaluated as potential indirect pathways. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to collect self-reported data from full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (<i>N</i> = 5,202) enrolled in accredited public and private universities across Henan Province, China. A stratified recruitment approach was used to enhance sample diversity. Data were collected through a secure online survey administered between March and April 2025. Validated scales assessed authenticity-related strain (self-alienation subscale), self-concept clarity, emotional suppression, and psychological distress (DASS-21). Structural equation modeling with bootstrapping (5,000 resamples) was used to estimate direct and indirect associations, adjusting for age and gender. Authenticity-related strain was positively associated with psychological distress (β = 0.213, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Both self-concept clarity (β = 0.142, 95% CI [0.091, 0.231]) and emotional suppression (β = 0.152, 95% CI [0.102, 0.243]) demonstrated significant indirect associations. A sequential pattern of indirect associations was also observed, such that authenticity-related strain was associated with lower self-concept clarity, which was associated with higher emotional suppression and greater psychological distress (β = 0.058, 95% CI [0.009, 0.111]). These indirect associations remained robust in sensitivity analyses, requiring substantial unmeasured confounding to attenuate the observed associations. The final model explained 41% of the variance in psychological distress (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.41). This study extends current understanding of authenticity-related challenges by identifying self-concept clarity and emotional suppression as key variables associated with psychological distress among university students. The findings highlight the potential relevance of identity-related and emotion-regulation processes to student mental health and may inform future research and context-sensitive support strategies in higher education settings.</p>

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Associations among authenticity-related strain, self-concept clarity, emotional suppression, and psychological distress in Chinese students

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月22日

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  • Jieying Sui,
  • Ma Yue,
  • Fang Liu,
  • Adnan Jahangir,
  • Abdulelah Ahmed Alghamdi

摘要

Authenticity-related strain has been increasingly recognized as a factor associated with psychological distress; however, the processes underlying this association remain insufficiently understood among university students. This study examined the direct and indirect associations between authenticity-related strain and psychological distress among Chinese university students, with self-concept clarity and emotional suppression evaluated as potential indirect pathways. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed to collect self-reported data from full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students (N = 5,202) enrolled in accredited public and private universities across Henan Province, China. A stratified recruitment approach was used to enhance sample diversity. Data were collected through a secure online survey administered between March and April 2025. Validated scales assessed authenticity-related strain (self-alienation subscale), self-concept clarity, emotional suppression, and psychological distress (DASS-21). Structural equation modeling with bootstrapping (5,000 resamples) was used to estimate direct and indirect associations, adjusting for age and gender. Authenticity-related strain was positively associated with psychological distress (β = 0.213, p < 0.001). Both self-concept clarity (β = 0.142, 95% CI [0.091, 0.231]) and emotional suppression (β = 0.152, 95% CI [0.102, 0.243]) demonstrated significant indirect associations. A sequential pattern of indirect associations was also observed, such that authenticity-related strain was associated with lower self-concept clarity, which was associated with higher emotional suppression and greater psychological distress (β = 0.058, 95% CI [0.009, 0.111]). These indirect associations remained robust in sensitivity analyses, requiring substantial unmeasured confounding to attenuate the observed associations. The final model explained 41% of the variance in psychological distress (R2 = 0.41). This study extends current understanding of authenticity-related challenges by identifying self-concept clarity and emotional suppression as key variables associated with psychological distress among university students. The findings highlight the potential relevance of identity-related and emotion-regulation processes to student mental health and may inform future research and context-sensitive support strategies in higher education settings.