Search Results (3,313)

Background: Lung cancer carries a high psychosocial burden. Tobacco use, the stigma attached to the disease, and coping strategies are thought to interact and shape psychological outcomes, yet they have rarely been examined together. This review aimed to synthesise the evidence on the relationship between tobacco use, lung cancer stigma, and coping, and how these factors interact and influence patients’ psychological outcomes. Methods: Following the PRISMA 2020 guideline, PubMed/MEDLINE and Dialnet were searched (window 2014–April 2026) for empirical studies conducted in adults with lung cancer that addressed stigma, coping, or relevant psychological outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression, distress, or quality of life). Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by consensus and, where needed, by a third reviewer. Methodological quality was appraised with design-specific tools (JBI for cross-sectional and cohort studies, CASP for qualitative studies, and COSMIN-oriented criteria for the psychometric study). Given the clinical and methodological heterogeneity, a structured narrative synthesis was conducted following the SWiM guideline. The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework. Results: Twenty-four studies were included. Stigma was prevalent and consistently associated with depression, anxiety, distress, and poorer quality of life, with longitudinal evidence indicating that stigma precedes and predicts distress. Internalised stigma (guilt, shame, self-blame) was the facet most strongly linked to depression and anxiety. Smoking history graded stigma intensity (current > former > never smokers) but did not determine it, since clinically significant stigma also affected never-smokers. Adaptive coping (e.g., fighting spirit, positive reappraisal) and social support were consistently associated with better psychological adjustment and quality of life, while maladaptive coping (e.g., helplessness, avoidance, anxious preoccupation) was associated with worse outcomes; cross-sectional evidence further indicated that coping modes mediated the relationship between stigma and quality of life and that social support and self-compassion attenuated the impact of stigma on distress. Conclusions: Internalised stigma is a central, modifiable psychosocial stressor in lung cancer that affects smokers and never-smokers alike. Systematic screening for stigma, coping, and social support, together with non-stigmatising care, is warranted. Full article

Background: Young adults face a convergence of academic, economic, and social pressures that elevates their risk for stress-related psychological disorders. Perceived stress encompasses two theoretically and empirically distinct components, perceived helplessness and perceived self-efficacy, but most research treats it as a single composite score, obscuring the differential mechanisms through which each dimension influences mental health. Aim: The study aimed to (i) quantify the direct effects of perceived helplessness and perceived self-efficacy on psychological distress, (ii) test insomnia and physical activity as concurrent mediators of each dimension’s indirect pathway to distress, and (iii) determine whether the two stress dimensions activate meaningfully distinct mechanisms. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 1688 young adults aged 18–23 years (M = 18.76, SD = 1.01; 41.6% female) from higher education institutions in Tunisia. Participants completed Arabic-validated versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Structural equation modeling (SEM) with unweighted least squares estimation and 5000 bootstrap resamples tested direct and indirect pathways. Results: Perceived helplessness exerted strong direct effects on psychological distress (beta = 0.25, p < 0.001) and substantial indirect effects through insomnia (beta = 0.21, p < 0.001) and physical activity (beta = 0.03, p < 0.001). Insomnia was the dominant mediator, showing the strongest bivariate association with distress (r = 0.58, p < 0.01). Perceived self-efficacy produced markedly weaker direct (beta = 0.06, p = 0.002) and indirect effects, a pattern that, like its other associations in the model, runs in the same positive direction as perceived helplessness rather than the inverse direction conventionally expected of a protective factor. Model fit was acceptable (CFI = 0.994, SRMR = 0.018, RMSEA = 0.076, the latter below the conventional 0.08 threshold). Conclusions: Stress management deficits are associated with psychological distress primarily through sleep disruption, consistent with a mediating role for insomnia in this cross-sectional sample. Physical activity provides a meaningful but secondary protective correlate. These findings offer a preliminary, hypothesis-generating basis for stratified, mechanism-based mental health interventions targeting sleep regulation and stress management in young adult populations, pending prospective confirmation. Full article

This article develops a conceptual framework for applied social-scientific research and advisory practice on safety culture in complex socio-technical systems. It starts with the observation that contemporary safety problems increasingly require forms of analysis that go beyond technical reliability and managerial control. Existing approaches to safety remain fragmented across engineering, management, and social science, often treating safety either as a technical design problem, a compliance issue, or a measurable organizational attitude. Against this background, the article argues that a practice-theoretical perspective can help integrate these approaches by understanding safety culture as an emergent configuration of meanings, routines, communication patterns, responsibilities, and situated professional practices. Particular attention is given to the risk paradox as it unfolds in critical infrastructures and safety-related organizations, where communication about possible failure is necessary for safety but may also generate anxiety, resistance, or mistrust. The central claim is that professional practice mediates between safety culture and organizational reliability: safety cultures become effective only insofar as they are enacted through communication, coordination, judgment, reporting, learning, and responsibility. On this basis, the article derives analytical dimensions for empirical research, organizational diagnosis, and advisory work aimed at cultivating reliable performance under conditions of uncertainty. Full article

Background: Traditional orthopaedic casting has remained the cornerstone of non-surgical fracture management for more than a century. Although plaster and fiberglass casts reliably stabilize fractures, they are associated with physical, psychological, emotional, social, and economic burdens that extend beyond bone healing. Children, older adults, and individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities may be disproportionately affected. Despite increasing recognition of these complications, existing orthopaedic literature has historically prioritized radiographic healing and biomechanical stability, with limited synthesis of the broader multidimensional patient impact of traditional casting. Emerging technologies such as light-cured polymer mesh (LCPM) systems and 3D-printed lattice immobilizers have been developed to address these limitations and better align fracture care with patient-centered principles. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using a structured and transparent literature identification approach informed by PRISMA reporting principles; however, this study was not conducted as a formal systematic review and did not include risk-of-bias assessment or quantitative synthesis. A broad search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed for studies published between January 2000 and July 2025. Search strategies combined MeSH terms and free-text keywords relating to orthopaedic casting, complications, psychosocial impacts, LCPM, and 3D-printed immobilizers. Following duplicate removal and a structured review process, 87 studies were included in the final narrative synthesis. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, observational studies, qualitative research, case series, and systematic reviews. Data were synthesized narratively across five domains: physical, psychological, emotional/social, economic, and technological alternatives. Results: Traditional plaster and fiberglass casts were consistently associated with musculoskeletal deterioration, joint stiffness, dermatological complications, and hygiene challenges. Psychological and emotional consequences included cast-induced anxiety, claustrophobia, depressive symptoms, and diminished autonomy. Social participation was frequently reduced due to mobility restrictions and perceived stigma, while economic impacts included hidden out-of-pocket expenses, caregiver burden, lost wages, and disparities in access to follow-up care. In contrast, emerging alternatives demonstrated promising advantages. LCPM systems improved ventilation, comfort, and hygiene, while reducing saw-related anxiety. Preliminary evidence suggests that both LCPM and 3D-printed systems may support improved patient experience and earlier return to selected activities, although larger comparative studies are needed to confirm effects on complication rates and long-term outcomes. Over time, these benefits may help offset higher upfront material costs. Conclusions: Fracture care should be evaluated not only by radiographic healing but also by patient-centered outcomes such as comfort, independence, and quality of life. Traditional casting imposes significant multidimensional burdens, whereas newer technologies such as LCPM and 3D-printed systems may offer a more holistic approach to immobilization while maintaining acceptable fracture stability in appropriately selected patient populations. While current evidence indicates potential physical, psychological, and economic advantages, large-scale comparative trials remain necessary to confirm long-term clinical, psychosocial, and cost-effectiveness outcomes across diverse populations. Future integration of emerging immobilization technologies into clinical practice may support more patient-centered, function-oriented, and cost-conscious approaches to fracture care. Full article

Background/Objectives: Social media use is central to adolescent functioning, yet problematic engagement is linked to adverse psychosocial outcomes. This study examined the relationship between loneliness and problematic social media use (PSMU), investigating the role of fear of missing out (FoMO) as an underlying mechanism. Methods: The study included 206 Polish adolescents (M = 17.21, SD = 1.16). Participants completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, and the de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Correlation, multiple regression, and bootstrapping analyses were performed to test these associations. Results: Loneliness was positively associated with PSMU and specific FoMO dimensions. PSMU correlated with all FoMO dimensions, although the association with fear of social exclusion was weaker. Social comparison anxiety and online monitoring were identified as key factors associated with the indirect path from loneliness to PSMU (β = 0.09, 95% CI [0.03, 0.23] and β = 0.05, 95% CI [0.01, 0.15], respectively). Fear of social exclusion did not show a significant association with loneliness. Conclusions: These findings align with a compensatory framework, suggesting that loneliness is related to PSMU through specific cognitive and behavioral processes related to FoMO. Given the cross-sectional design, these results are exploratory; future longitudinal research is required to establish the directionality and temporal stability of these associations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Depression and burnout are common among medical students, leading to serious academic and professional consequences. LGBTQ+ students are especially vulnerable to mental health issues. This study aims to help understand the associations between sexual orientation and distress levels among Portuguese medical students. Methods: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted with participants from Portuguese medical schools. Data collection took place between 2022 and 2025 through electronic questionnaires. Assessment tools included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 (95% confidence interval). Group comparisons by sexual orientation were conducted using chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and independent samples t-tests. Predictors of depression and state anxiety were assessed using multiple linear regression. Results: The sample included 1668 (83.2%) heterosexual students and 336 (16.8%) LGBTQ+ students. The rates of depression and anxiety were 43.2% and 25.7%, respectively. LGBTQ+ students reported more difficulties in personal, academic, social, and financial areas and showed higher levels of distress than heterosexual students. Key factors linked to distress included burnout, social support, and grade satisfaction. Additionally, burnout, low-grade satisfaction, and substance abuse were associated with anxiety and depression levels differently depending on sexual orientation. Conclusions: This study’s findings confirm higher distress levels among the LGBTQ+ group compared to the heterosexual group, helping us identify students who are more vulnerable to developing mental illness and prompting us to reconsider which aspects of medical training and culture contribute to this distress. Full article

A six-month follow-up study with two waves was conducted among 10,170 college students. Longitudinal network analysis was used to examine the core symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as the manifestation of psychological crisis; to explore the network relationships among anxiety, depression, and psychological crisis; and to test the temporal stability of these network relationships. The results are as follows: (1) The core symptoms of anxiety and depression among college students were somatic symptoms and affective disturbance at T1, and cognitive symptoms and affective disturbance at T2; the core node of psychological crisis at both T1 and T2 was social support deficit and self-cognitive distress. (2) Psychomotor disturbance was the strongest predictor of other nodes. (3) The overall network structure from T1 to T2 remained relatively stable. These findings reveal the relationship between anxiety/depressive symptoms and psychological crisis among college students, providing a new perspective for psychological crisis intervention in this population. Full article

Background: Ruminative exploration is a maladaptive form of identity development and is related to higher rates of anxiety and depression. Few researchers have examined how the four dimensions of social media self-presentation (breadth, depth, positivity, authenticity) impact ruminative exploration; much of the literature focuses on identity coherence or identity clarity. Furthermore, the social diversification hypothesis supports that social media is used differently across racial/ethnic groups. The current study aimed to understand how social media self-presentation predicted ruminative exploration while examining the role of anxiety among women (18–29 years old) from diverse backgrounds. Method: The study design was cross-sectional and used convenience sampling. Participants (N = 225) completed surveys including the Social Media Self-Presentation Scale (SMSPS), the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety, and the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale. Results: Overall, breadth and authenticity of social media self-presentation predicted lower ruminative exploration, but anxiety predicted higher ruminative exploration. There was no interaction between anxiety and any of the four SMSPS dimensions. Distinct patterns emerged when examining social media self-presentation on ruminative exploration by racial/ethnic groups. Deep and authentic presentation predicted lower ruminative exploration for Black women. Posting positive content predicted higher ruminative exploration for White women. For Latina women, none of the SMSPS dimensions predicted ruminative exploration. For each racial/ethnic group, anxiety predicted higher ruminative exploration, but there was no interaction between any of the SMSPS dimensions and anxiety on ruminative exploration. Conclusions: Findings indicate that sharing deeply and authentically may support less ruminative exploration, particularly for Black women. However, anxiety’s impact on ruminative exploration is not moderated by social media self-presentation. Full article

This paper examines how technological innovation in next-generation probiotics shapes consumer trust through the lens of perceived safety. Rapid advances—spanning conventional cultures (Tier 1), postbiotics (Tier 2), and engineered microbial strains (Tier 3)—are transforming functional food architectures, yet consumer trust remains a critical determinant of their successful development, application, and adoption. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence from food microbiology, consumer perception research, and regulatory analysis, this study examines and evaluates how these distinct technological innovation tiers alter public risk dynamics. Findings indicate that processing methodologies, media framing, and the spread of misinformation significantly influence public perceptions of microbial legitimacy, while the “Animation Gap” and “Contamination Anxiety” introduce qualitatively new cognitive friction points. Furthermore, regulatory inconsistencies across jurisdictions and variability in health claim substantiation further complicate market uptake. Streamlined case-based evidence highlights physical stability, sensory performance, and explicit value metrics that determine whether technological innovations are trusted or rejected by consumers. The paper argues that bridging the gap between scientific innovation and public acceptance requires proactive communication strategies, ethical marketing practices, and participatory engagement strategies grounded in empirical integrity. In addition, digital ecosystems, including social media and algorithm-driven content exposure, play an increasingly influential role in amplifying technology neophobia, underscoring the need for robust, targeted, evidence-based public communication in the evolving landscape of probiotic and functional food innovation. Full article

The postnatal period involves significant emotional and relational shifts that can challenge early mother–infant interactions, particularly under conditions of psychosocial vulnerability (e.g., maternal anxiety/depression) or infant-related risk (e.g., preterm birth). Maternal mentalization, operationalized as Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF), is a key protective factor for sensitive caregiving and dyadic regulation. Objectives: This protocol describes a multicenter, open-label, single-arm feasibility study evaluating a brief, fully online, mentalization-based video-feedback intervention (VFI-RF). The study is designed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, rather than its efficacy. We aim to recruit 48 mothers, 24 in each of two risk groups, through socio-health services and neonatal intensive care units. Risk Group 1 will include mothers with clinically significant depressive and/or anxiety symptoms, defined as EPDS > 9 and/or GAD-7 ≥ 10, whereas Risk Group 2 will include mothers of preterm infants, defined as infants born before 37 weeks of gestation. Methods: The intervention consists of 8 + 2 synchronous online sessions over approximately 5 months. Mothers record brief everyday caregiving interactions (~5 min) to review with a trained clinician, focusing on the infant’s internal states and reflective meaning-making. Assessments occur at baseline (T0, infant age ~3 months), post-intervention (T1, ~8 months), and follow-up (T2, ~12 months). Primary feasibility outcomes include recruitment/referral metrics, uptake, retention, assessment completion, missing data, and participant-reported acceptability. Secondary exploratory clinical outcomes include maternal PRF, symptoms, parenting stress, social support, and mother–infant attachment, evaluated via validated self-report questionnaires. Results: The study is designed to evaluate referral and recruitment patterns, intervention uptake, and participant retention, as well as the acceptability and suitability of study procedures and outcome measures for a future controlled trial. Preliminary trajectories of change in maternal reflective functioning and early relational indicators will be examined descriptively and exploratorily. Conclusions: Findings will inform the feasibility and refinement of a brief online mentalization-based video-feedback intervention to support at-risk mother–infant dyads during the first postnatal year. Trial registration: Registered on Open Science Framework, osf.io/6g9ja, date of registration 4th March 2026. Full article

Introduction: Chronic dermatological diseases that appear in adolescence, such as acne vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata and psoriasis vulgaris, not only cause physical symptoms but also significantly affect young people’s quality of life, mental state, self-esteem and social relationships. Social media, especially information spread by influencers, significantly influences adolescents’ body image, health-related attitudes and even the quality of the physician-patient relationship. The aim of our study was to explore the relationships between dermatology-related quality of life, media use, health values, body image and self-esteem among adolescents with chronic dermatological diseases. Methods: In our cross-sectional, quantitative study, we used validated questionnaires (DLQI, EQ-5D-5L, IRVS, Attitude Scale, STAI-Y2, SWLS-H, Rosenberg Scale, BAT), which we supplemented with a media consumption questionnaire of our own design. Structured data collection took place between October 2024 and March 2025, with the participation of 208 adolescents aged 11–18. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 (Spearman’s correlation, Mann–Whitney test). Differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. Ethical approval: BM/22429-1/2024. Results: Acne vulgaris was the most common diagnosis (65%), followed by atopic dermatitis (22%) and psoriasis (11%). Over a quarter of the adolescents (27%) followed influencers who provided skincare advice. The mean daily screen time was 4.5 h, with 3.7 h on smartphones. A longer screen time was significantly correlated with poorer dermatological quality of life. Greater dermatology-related quality of life impairment (higher DLQI scores) was associated with poorer general quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). Following skincare-related influencers was significantly associated with dermatology-related quality of life and anxiety. Conversely, stronger health values were significantly linked to more favourable health behaviors. Conclusions: In this sample, greater dermatology-related quality-of-life impairment was associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. Longer screen time was associated with poorer dermatology-related quality of life and less favourable psychosocial outcomes. The novelty of our study lies in the use of a self-developed media consumption questionnaire, which is suitable for the complex mapping of psychological and quality-of-life factors in adolescents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cancer survivors admitted to inpatient rehabilitation suffer from a complex burden of interrelated physical and psychological symptoms. While mean-level improvements during rehabilitation are well-documented, it remains unknown whether rehabilitation modifies the underlying structure of symptom interconnections—the symptom network—beyond reducing individual symptom scores. This study aimed to characterize symptom network structure at admission and discharge of a 21-day inpatient cancer rehabilitation program based on cancer-related physical symptoms and psychosocial functioning, formally compare network topology across timepoints, identify structurally central treatment targets, and assess the transdiagnostic generalizability of findings. Methods: Secondary analysis of routinely collected, electronic patient-reported outcome (PRO) data from 5066 cancer survivors (mean age 60.3 years, SD 12.2; 64.2% female; most frequent diagnoses: breast cancer = 36.9%, hematological malignancies = 10.4%; prostate cancer = 8.5%) admitted to a single-center inpatient rehabilitation program was performed between January 2017 and November 2022. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires were utilized. Bayesian Gaussian Graphical Models were estimated at admission (T0) and discharge (T1) across 17 symptom and functioning domains using Bayesian Model Averaging (15,000 iterations). Edge-level change was quantified via posterior distributions of pairwise differences with 95% Highest Density Intervals. Node-level changes were assessed using Bayesian paired t-tests. Centrality was quantified by Expected Influence and Bridge Expected Influence. Results: Patients showed clinically meaningful improvements across all 17 domains during rehabilitation (all Bayes Factors >10; posterior probability of direction >99.9%). The largest standardized effects were observed for emotional functioning (Cohen’s d = 0.76), global health status (d = 0.69), and fatigue (d = 0.53). These improvements were clinically meaningful for a substantial proportion of patients: 62% improved by at least the minimal important difference in fatigue and 58% in emotional functioning, and the proportion of patients with probable anxiety fell from 15% to 6% and probable depression from 10% to 4%. Emotional functioning and anxiety were the most central domains in the symptom network—most strongly connected to the rest of patients’ symptom burden—at both admission and discharge. Despite the clinical improvements, the overall architecture of symptom interconnections changed little (83% of connections were unchanged). This indicates that the severity of symptoms was mitigated while the structure linking them together remained largely intact. The one connection that strengthened was that between impaired social functioning and financial difficulties (Δ = −0.112). Structural findings were consistent across ten cancer types (leave-one-out r > 0.80 in seven of ten). Conclusions: Over the course of inpatient cancer rehabilitation, patients showed large improvements against a background of largely stable symptom network architecture. Emotional functioning and anxiety occupy structurally central positions at both admission and discharge, identifying them as candidate domains warranting further investigation for network-informed rehabilitation. These findings provide a novel structural perspective on oncological rehabilitation and a framework for developing more targeted intervention strategies. Full article

Despite heightened physical risks during the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults often reported better mental health than younger adults, suggesting significant resilience. We used longitudinal qualitative data to examine how difficulties and positive experiences contributed to this resilience. Weekly COVID-related difficulties and positive experiences were collected using internet surveys over eight weeks from 247 respondents aged 51–95 (M = 71.1, SD = 7.3). Nearly all identified at least one difficulty, and 76% had problems three or more times. Longitudinal thematic analysis (LTA) revealed that most were consistent in how they described they difficulties, including problems with everyday protective activities, psychological distress, social isolation, and cultural divide (disagreements over public health policy). Although 78% identified at least one positive, less than half (42%) did so at three or more time pints. Positive experiences were more diverse across time, but some reported greater interpersonal connection by utilizing technology to increase social contacts. LTA revealed three stances towards positive experiences: active efforts, appreciative efforts (observation), and mixed efforts. While trait resilience was unrelated to the themes, the mixed approach towards positive experiences was associated with lower anxiety at the last assessment, emphasizing the importance of positive experiences during stress. Full article

The rapid evolution of Padel in Saudi Arabia (SA) has positioned the sport as a popular recreational and social activity, mainly among young adults. However, limited research has examined how different forms of sport motivation are associated with mental health outcomes in this emerging context. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study investigated the associations between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and depression, stress, and anxiety among Padel players in SA. A quantitative, cross-sectional online survey was conducted with a sample of 475 players, the majority of whom were aged 17–35 and held at least a bachelor’s degree. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the relationships between multidimensional motivation factors and mental health symptoms. The findings revealed a nuanced, at times paradoxical, pattern of relationships. Intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation (engaging in an activity because of the positive sensations, excitement, enjoyment, or stimulation that the activity itself provides, rather than for external rewards or pressures) was consistently associated with lower levels of depression, stress, and anxiety, suggesting that enjoyment-driven involvement is associated with better mental health outcomes. In contrast, intrinsic motivation to accomplish was positively correlated with all three mental health indicators, indicating that achievement-oriented engagement might intensify emotional pressure. Among extrinsic motivations, external regulation was significantly associated with poorer mental health outcomes. In contrast, introjected regulation unexpectedly displayed a negative association with psychological distress, demonstrating a potentially adaptive role in this setting. Identified regulation, however, was not significantly associated with any mental health symptoms. These results underscore the “double-edged” nature of sport motivation, showing that not all internal or external motives yield uniformly positive consequences. The study contributed to the growing literature by providing a context-specific understanding of how motivational dynamics function within a rapidly growing sport in Saudi Arabia. In practice, the findings suggested that enjoyment-based involvement was associated with more favourable mental health outcomes, whereas performance-related pressures might be associated with less favourable outcomes. Full article

Background: As a crucial transitional period from campus to society, providing comprehensive undergraduate health psychological care is essential for addressing Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). Current global healthcare research is actively exploring innovative digital interventions, with a specific focus on leveraging Augmented Reality (AR) as a transformative auxiliary tool in clinical settings. Methods: This study investigates the factors influencing the acceptance of AR-assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) within student healthcare frameworks by developing a research model based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The framework incorporates key clinical and behavioral constructs: self-efficacy (SE), facilitating conditions (FC), and social influence (SI). Results: SE, FC, and SI significantly and positively impact the willingness to adopt AR technology for mental health purposes. Based on these findings, practical recommendations are provided for healthcare technology developers, therapists, and university psychological care providers to enhance the integration of AR-assisted CBT. Conclusions: Strengthening these digital pathways is vital for improving healthcare outcomes and enabling students to navigate future social and professional environments effectively. Because the sample consisted solely of Chinese undergraduate students, the findings should be interpreted within this specific cultural and educational context and require further validation in cross-cultural and multi-regional samples. Full article