Mental health among college students: Relationships with Actively Open-Minded Thinking, Spirituality, and Psychological Wellbeing

Abstract

Mental health, like many other physical diseases can contribute to a significant loss of output in our economy. Higher education institutes can play a significant role in enhancing the mental wellbeing of college students. In support of this endeavor, this research investigates how actively open-minded thinking (AOT) and spirituality (SP) relate to psychological wellbeing (PWB). Data revealed that both AOT and SP have a positive impact on most dimensions of PWB and in some instances, SP acts as a moderator. Our study highlights the importance of SP in the PWB of college students.

Keywords:

• Mental health
• psychological wellbeing
• actively open-minded thinking
• spirituality
• learning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Performance is an outcome based on the interaction between ability and motivation (Pinder, 1984). Similarly, AOT as a skill or ability and SP as a motivator could interact to influence the outcome PWB.

2 PROCESS MACRO was also used and final results were the same. Since the outputs don’t provide changes in coefficients and r-squares in each step, Hierarchical Multiple Regression was employed.

3 One of the key underpinnings of spirituality is the idea of interconnectedness. Western thinking goes from micro to macro (analyzing something by breaking down larger systems into detail) but Asian thinking goes from macro to micro (a big picture mentality in which a person recognizes the interconnectedness of various elements that form larger systems, patterns, and objects) (Myers, 2014). This line of thinking is not confined to just culture. Studies relating to categorization in thinking for example have shown a basic difference in analytic (specific) and holistic thinkers (Choi, Nisbett, & Norenzayan, 1999; Escalas & Bettman, 2005; Markus & Kitayama 1991). When evaluating objects, analytic thinkers assign them to unique categories and evaluate them in reference to category specific attributes whereas, holistic thinkers emphasize relationships across categories and events, demonstrating flexibility in categorization (Jain, Desai, & Mao, 2007; Masuda & Nisbett 2001; Monga & John, 2010). Both approaches are valuable, particularly if we acknowledge our cognitive biases and appreciate diverse perspectives as complementing our own. Holistic thinking which includes aspects of spirituality can transcend contradictions and provide a path to find truth even in opposing ideas.