Network analysis of well-being, perceived stress, and self-efficacy among Indian college students

This study investigated the item-level relationships among mental well-being, perceived stress, and self-efficacy using network analysis. While previous research has often explored these variables through aggregate scores, such approaches may obscure the complex interplay between individual components of these psychological constructs. The study was conducted in a sample of 640 Indian young adults, and the data were analyzed using network analytic techniques in R, with centrality metrics and bootstrapping employed to assess the stability and accuracy of the network structure. Results indicated a weak negative association between perceived stress and well-being and a moderate positive association between well-being and self-efficacy. No significant association was found between perceived stress and self-efficacy at the scale level. Item-level network analysis revealed that feelings of confidence, cheerfulness, and self-esteem were the most central nodes within the well-being, perceived stress, and self-efficacy network. Few strong connections were found across constructs, suggesting that the relationships between well-being, perceived stress, and self-efficacy are context-dependent and not uniformly distributed across all dimensions. These findings emphasize the utility of network analysis in identifying core psychological components and their interrelations. By moving beyond traditional analytic methods, this study provides new insights into the structure of youth mental health, with important implications for theory, research, and intervention.