Values conflict and anxiety in Chinese college students: Self-concept clarity as a mediator

Grounded in Schwartz’s theory of basic values and the structural model of self-concept, in this study we examined the mediating role of self-concept clarity in the relationship between anxiety and the self-transcendence and self-enhancement dimensions of values conflict. We conducted a survey with 683 Chinese university students, assessing their values conflict, self-concept clarity, and anxiety. The results indicated that values conflict was positively associated with anxiety, and this relationship was partly mediated by reduced self-concept clarity. Students in the high-values-conflict group exhibited the lowest self-concept clarity and the highest levels of anxiety. These findings shed light on the psychological mechanisms underlying values conflict and mental adaptation, offering theoretical support for mental health interventions in university settings.