Between Comfort and Challenge: The Role of Social Support in Shaping College Students' Happiness and Stress

This study delves into the intricate relationship between social support and college students' subjective well-being and perceived stress by utilizing questionnaires administered to 257 students at a Chinese university. Employing rigorous statistical analysis with SPSS 26.0, the research employed regression and correlation techniques to process the collected data. The findings unveiled a compelling positive correlation between social support and subjective well-being among the participants. Notably, both family and friend support emerged as significant influencers of well-being, although the impact of friend support was more pronounced.The study revealed that heightened levels of social support correlated with a decrease in perceived stress among the students. Among the various forms of social support, friend support demonstrated the most significant effect in mitigating stress. These results underscore the importance of fostering a supportive social environment in academic settings, as it can significantly contribute to the emotional well-being and mental health of college students. By understanding the specific dynamics between social support and these psychological constructs, educational institutions can tailor interventions and strategies to better support their students' holistic development.