From Academic Involution to Psychological Distress: The Mediating Role of Competitive Psychology in Depression–Anxiety–Stress Among College Students in Anhui Province

Aim: This study aims to explore how competitive psychology mediates the relationship between involution and depression–anxiety–stress among college students from three universities in Anhui Province, China. Background: Against the global involution trend, college students excessively pursue academic achievements, leading to heightened self-involution and psychological issues like anxiety and depression, while competitive psychology’s mediating role here remains under-explored. Methods: A multi-cross-sectional survey in three Anhui universities used convenience sampling to collect 592 samples. Results: Three validated scales assessed involution, competitive psychology, and depression–anxiety–stress, with mediation analysis via SPSS Process 3.3. The results showed strong positive correlations between the three variables (r = 0.827, 0.638, p < 0.001), and competitive psychology significantly mediated the involution–depression–anxiety–stress relationship (r = 0.110). Conclusions: The observed data are consistent with a correlational mediation model among college students from three universities in Anhui Province. The findings provide theoretical references for local university educational practice and mental health guidance, without causal inference or nationwide policy generalization; future research should explore related mechanisms and interventions. Clinical Relevance: This study provides empirical evidence for nursing and mental health professionals to design targeted psychological interventions for college students, helping mitigate the negative impacts of involution and competitive pressure on mental health in clinical practice.