The Multiple Mediating Effects Of Impoverished College Students' Perception Of Discrimination On Subjective Well-being

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of belief in a just world and resilience on perceived discrimination and subjective well-being of impoverished college students.Impoverished college students,a special group in colleges,are likely to perceive others' prejudice and discrimination due to their weak economic status.Previous studies have shown that,although some vulnerable groups have perceived discrimination,their mental health haven't been influenced significantly because of protective factors.This study explored the relationship between perceived discrimination and subjective well-being of impoverished college students and its internal influence mechanism from the internal protective factors.In this study,837impoverished college students were involved from some universities in Jiangsu Province,measured with'Perceived Discrimination Scale','Belief in a Just World Scale','Connor-Davidson resilience scale','Satisfaction with Life Scale' and 'Affect Balance Scale'.From the perspective of belief in a just world and resilience,this study discussed the characteristics of perceived discrimination and subjective well-being of impoverished college students and the role of belief in a just world and resilience between perceived discrimination and subjective well-being,so as to provide new ways to improve their mental heath.The results were following:(1)The perceived discrimination of male students was significantly higher than that of female students;the middle impoverished level of students had the highest perceived discrimination and lowest level of belief in a just world;the students of liberal arts had the highest group perceived discrimination,while there was no significance in personal perceived discrimination among different disciplines of college students;there were significant differences in belief in a just world,resilience and subjective well-being among students in different grades.(2)Perceived discrimination,belief in a just world,resilience and subjective well-being were significantly correlated with each other.(3)Perceived discrimination significantly and negatively predicted subjective well-being.(4)Belief in a just world and resilience played the role of multiple mediation between perceived discrimination and subjective well-being.Perceived discrimination can not only affect subjective well-being through belief in a just world,but can also affect resilience by belief in a just world,thus affecting subjective well-being.The study draws the conclusions:Perceived discrimination is one of the risk factors for mental health of impoverished college students and impacts on their life satisfaction and affect balance.While belief in a just world and resilience,as individuals' internal protection resources,interacting with each other,can reduce the negative impact of perceived discrimination on mental health.