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

This study investigates the characteristics and interrelationships of Positive Illusions, Psychological Resilience, and Subjective Well-Being among 803 college students from Shaanxi Province, China, surveyed in 2023. Positive Illusions—defined as cognitive biases including Idealization, Controllability, and Optimism—were found at moderate to low levels, Psychological Resilience was low, while Subjective Well-Being was generally favorable. Significant positive correlations existed between Psychological Resilience, Positive Illusions, and Subjective Well-Being, with Positive Illusions partially mediating the effect of Psychological Resilience on Subjective Well-Being. The findings highlight the importance of enhancing Positive Illusions and Psychological Resilience to improve college students' mental health and provide theoretical and practical guidance for related interventions.