The Influence of Self-Concept Clarity on College Students’ Perceived Stress: The Mediating Role of Future Self- Continuity and Intervention Research

This study aims to explore the influence of self-concept clarity on college students’ perceived stress, the mediating role of future self-continuity, and the intervention effect of expressive art therapy. Using a stratified random sampling method, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 891 college students in a university in Tianjin. Pearson correlation analysis and Process plug-in were used for mediating effect testing. The results showed that: college students’ perceived stress was significantly negatively correlated with self-concept clarity and future self-continuity (r=-0.50, r=-0.11, p<0.01); self-concept clarity was significantly positively correlated with future self-continuity (r=0.28, p<0.01); future self-continuity played a partial mediating role between self-concept clarity and perceived stress, and the mediating effect accounted for 14.28% of the total effect. In addition, the 8-week expressive art therapy intervention significantly improved college students’ self-concept clarity and future self-continuity, and reduced perceived stress (p<0.01). This study provides a theoretical basis and practical strategies for college students’ stress management based on self-cognition and future goal integration.