Relationship Between Positive Illusions, Psychological Resilience, and Subjective Well-Being in College Students: A New Attempt at Positive Psychology

Positive Illusion, as an important mechanism of cognitive adaptation in positive psychology, enhances positive information feedback, thereby boosting self-worth. This study involved 803 college students from Shaanxi Province, China, surveyed between March 1 and August 31, 2023. The Positive Illusion, Psychological Resilience, and Subjective Well-Being scales were utilized to examine the characteristics and interrelationships of these constructs through path analysis. The findings indicated that college students’ levels of Positive Illusions were generally moderate to low ( t = 75.04, p < .001), Psychological Resilience levels were low ( t = 129.96, p < .001), and their Subjective Well-Being was generally good ( t = 222.33, p < .001). Significant positive correlations were found between Subjective Well-Being and Psychological Resilience ( r = 0.48, p < .01); Positive Illusions and Psychological Resilience ( r = 0.59, p < .01); and Subjective Well-Being and Positive Illusions ( r = 0.49, p < .01). Idealization, Controllability, and Optimism in Positive Illusions partially mediated the relationship between Psychological Resilience and Subjective Well-Being, with mediation effect proportions of 16.13%, 12.43%, and 12.69% respectively. Pathways for enhancing college students’ Subjective Well-Being are explored, offering relevant theoretical and practical guidance for mental health.