A systematic review of predictors of college students’ subjective well-being: evidence from pre- and post-pandemic literature

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the mental health of university populations, necessitating a systematic synthesis of the predictors of subjective well-being among Chinese college students. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the researchers searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for peer-reviewed studies published between 2018 and 2024, completing the final search on December 30, 2024. Methodological quality was evaluated using design-specific JBI appraisal tools to accommodate the diverse longitudinal, quasi-experimental, qualitative, and cross-sectional methodologies within the sample. The analytic process utilized a two-stage thematic synthesis involving deductive data extraction followed by inductive theme generation to maintain methodological precision. Results: The final sample included 34 studies comprising 15,301 participants and revealed six primary predictive clusters for well-being, including social support, interpersonal dynamics, physical activity, and individual resilience. Longitudinal and quasi-experimental findings indicate that familial cohesion, leisure crafting, and adaptive coping strategies are sustained predictors of happiness during the post-pandemic recovery phase. Qualitative data further elucidate subjective challenges regarding digital temperance and the construction of self-identity in virtual environments. Conclusion: This study provides an empirical framework to guide higher education administrators and policymakers in developing targeted mental health interventions tailored to evolving academic environments.