Longitudinal Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Harmonious Academic Passion: The Chain Mediation of Resilience and Self-Esteem

Critical thinking (CT) and harmonious academic passion (HAP) are two crucial personal traits that influence students’ learning performance and future achievement. However, the relationship between CT and HAP, as well as the mediating roles of resilience and self-esteem, remain unclear. To address this gap, a three-wave longitudinal survey was conducted over 5 months, with valid data from 350 Chinese college students who completed online self-report questionnaires. Mediation analyses revealed that CT, resilience, self-esteem, and HAP were all positively correlated. CT directly predicted HAP, and indirectly influenced it through resilience and self-esteem, both as independent mediators and as a sequential chain. These results indicate that resilience and self-esteem serve as important psychological pathways through which CT fosters HAP. The findings contribute to the literature by clarifying how CT influences HAP over time and offer practical implications for designing educational interventions to enhance students’ motivation and well-being.