From quantity to quality: Differential effects of social practice on students' innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities—The mediating role of psychological capital

OBJECTIVES: Social practice (SP) plays a critical role in enhancing university students' innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities (IEC). However, current evaluations tend to prioritize quantitative metrics (e.g., frequency and duration) over qualitative engagement. This study examines the associations between distinct dimensions of SP engagement (frequency, duration, and depth) and IEC, while also testing the mediating role of psychological capital (PC). METHODS: A cross-sectional study survey of 5259 Chinese university students was conducted using questionnaires that measured SP engagement (frequency, duration, and depth), IEC and PC. The hypothesized model was validated through correlation analysis and bootstrap mediation analysis (Model 4) implemented with the PROCESS macro. RESULTS: = 36.26%). Furthermore, PC partially mediated the relationship between all three SP dimensions and IEC, with the highest mediation proportion observed for SP frequency(76.36%), followed by SP duration (70.69%) and SP depth (64.89%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a quality-oriented association between SP and IEC, wherein SP depth shows a stronger total effect on IEC than quantitative dimensions. Specifically, the effect of SP frequency on IEC is primarily mediated by PC, whereas the effect of SP depth is largely direct, and that of SP duration lies intermediate between the two. Institutions may therefore consider shifting from quantity to quality-focused approaches, prioritizing deep-engagement projects and fostering students' PC. Future longitudinal or experimental research is needed to establish causal directions and further validate the mediating role of PC.