Self-Efficacy Triggers Psychological Appraisal Mechanism for Mindset Shift

Abstract

This paper talks about how to insist staying in changed mindset based on the assigned cognitive reframing principles, and finally the changed mindset become a forever psychological status by PSI model proposed by this study. P is the cognitive reframing principle of positive psychology, happiness in this case; S is self-efficacy, which plays the important role in maintaining the stress taker to psychologically stay in the changed mindset in the long run. I represent of insisting power, the mental toughness to against the adverse negative emotions. Improving university students’ stress coping skills through the psychological dynamics formed by cognitive reframing principles of positive psychology, self-efficacy, and mental toughness will help them effectively deal with stressful events. This study aims to reduce university students’ stress level by increasing their ability to cope with stress, and improving their life satisfaction by understanding the mechanism for mindset-shift of university students and proposal of the new PSI reframing model for creating a new path to let students view stressors as challenge, not hindrance. Theories adopted in this study include cognitive reframing principles, appraisal theory, hindrance-challenge theory, cognitive reframing the schema. In the introduction section, the authors will clearly depict the logics for utilization of these theories in supporting the proposed PSI model. This research was divided into two studies. Study 1 postulated that cognitive reframing principles of positive psychology, self-efficacy, and mental toughness have a positive mediating effect in the causal relationship between university students’ stress level and life satisfaction. Findings revealed that stressful life events negatively predict the level of LS. Also, PP, SE, and MT exert a positive and significant impact on the relationship between stressful life events and LS. PP strengthens individuals’ perception of stressful life events as challenges instead of hindrances. This study showed that individuals need to think positively and develop self-efficacy in order to generate mental toughness when confronted with challenges from stressful life events, and needs to have self-efficacy and confidence towards cognitive reframing principles of positive psychology in their mind, and finally form a mental toughness competence to protect the newly changed mindset in the long run.