The Influence of Stress and Stress Mindset on Identity Development and Sense of Belonging Among First-Year College Students

Morgan Napolitano

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: BA.PSYCHOLOGY

Faculty Research Mentor: Fei Shen

Abstract:

The first year of college represents a pivotal stage of development in which students begin navigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood. During this period, individuals face new academic and social challenges, explore personal and cultural identities, and work toward creating a sense of belonging within the university environment. Successfully connecting these experiences into a clear identity is closely linked with students’ academic persistence, emotional wellness, and overall adjustment. However, the psychosocial processes that shape the relationship between identity development and belongingness remain underexplored.
The proposed study aims to investigate how stress mindset and perceived social support influence the relationship between identity development and sense of belonging among first-year students at Kean University. Using data from the Psychology faculty research project- From campus to global citizenship: Dynamic identity development, holistic wellness, and sustainable psychosocial mechanisms in emerging adulthood, a cross-sectional quantitative study design will be employed. This study will examine whether students who perceive stress as a challenge rather than a threat, and who report higher levels of social support, experience stronger identity connection, and greater belongingness within their campus community. Findings from this project will contribute to understanding how cognitive and social factors support identity formation and belonging, ultimately shaping campus interventions to support student well-being and adjustment.