The Association between Environmental Sensitivity and Psychological Distress among College Freshmen: The Mediating Role of Social Exclusion

Objective: To explore the influencing factors and mechanisms of psychological distress among freshmen during the college transition period. Methods: A total of 1041 freshmen were surveyed using the Chinese Version of Highly Sensitive Child and Adolescent, the Ostracism Experience Scale for Adolescents and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Results: (1) Environmental sensitivity, social exclusion, and psychological distress were significantly positively correlated pairwise; (2) The total effect of environmental sensitivity on psychological distress was significant (β =0.18, p<0.001); the direct effect of environmental sensitivity on psychological distress was significant (β =0.15, p<0.001); social exclusion had a significant partial mediating effect between environmental sensitivity and psychological distress (β =0.35, p<0.001), accounting for 17.39% of the total effect. Conclusion: Environmental sensitivity could not only predict psychological distress but also indirectly predict it through social exclusion.