Mental toughness, emotion expressivity and psychological well-being

Abstract

Mental health is essential to human well-being and integral to our daily lives. One population that experiences mental health challenges, and the focus of this research programme is the student population. Students encounter unpredictable and stressful situations, such as being away from home, fear of the future, financial stress, finance-related issues like student loans, loneliness, transitional issues, educational hardships, difficulty getting jobs, and fear of the job market. This research explores the connections between mental toughness, emotional expressivity, and psychological well-being among university students through a mixed-methods approach across three interconnected studies. Study 1 used a cross-sectional design with 292 participants to explore the relationship between mental toughness and psychological well-being, with emotional expressivity as a mediator. Results indicated a significant positive correlation between mental toughness and psychological well-being, with emotional expressivity partially mediating this relationship, suggesting emotional expressivity enhances the beneficial effects of mental toughness on well-being. Building on these findings, Study 2 employed a quasi-experimental design to evaluate a four-week loving-kindness meditation (LKM) intervention on mental toughness, positive emotions, and psychological well-being in a sample of 62 students (26 in the LKM group, 36 in the control group). Mixed ANOVA analyses demonstrated significant improvements in mental toughness (and psychological well-being in the LKM group compared to the control group. While positive emotions in the LKM group remained stable, the control group experienced a significant. Study 3 provided a qualitative perspective by examining participants’ experiences in the LKM program through thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 20 participants. Findings revealed increased emotional resilience, self-acceptance, relaxation, and personal growth resulting from engaging with the LKM. Although participants encountered initial challenges in daily adherence, they reported enhanced engagement and transformative effects over time. Many participants intended to continue meditation independently, highlighting the intervention’s lasting impact. Together, these studies emphasise the relationship between mental toughness and emotional expressivity in psychological well-being, illustrating that LKM can be a powerful tool for enhancing mental toughness and psychological well-being. Future research should further investigate the long-term sustainability of these effects, refine LKM practices based on participant feedback, and explore emotional expressivity's role in optimising meditation-based interventions.