ESP-3786

Published

2026-03-06

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Vol. 11 No. 3 (2026): Publishing

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Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Lifan Xue, Yu Feng, Yafei Liang

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How to Cite

Lifan Xue, Yu Feng, & Yafei Liang. (2026). The affect between education and cognition for students in a competitive society after the Covid-19. Environment and Social Psychology, 11(3), ESP-3786. https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v11i3.3786

The affect between education and cognition for students in a competitive society after the Covid-19

Lifan Xue

Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia

Yu Feng

Qingdao Hengxing University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, 266100, China

Yafei Liang

School of Special Education, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, 250022, China


DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v11i3.3786


Keywords: Covid-19; student anxiety; cognitive factors; higher education

Abstract

The increasing change and competitive pressure in higher education have raised concerns about student anxiety, especially across different educational pathways. This study examines anxiety among associate degree and bachelor’s degree students and explores how educational level and cognitive characteristics are related to anxiety. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional, and non-experimental design, data were collected from 100 third-year students at a Chinese university through standardized questionnaires measuring generalized anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty. Descriptive analysis, group comparison, correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression were conducted to examine patterns of association among the variables. The findings indicate that anxiety levels vary across educational backgrounds and that intolerance of uncertainty is meaningfully associated with students’ anxiety when educational level is considered. Although causal inferences cannot be drawn, the results highlight the relevance of both structural educational factors and individual cognitive tendencies in understanding student anxiety. This study provides empirical support for future research employing prospective or intervention based designs to further explore these relationships.

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