Linking Critical Thinking Dispositions to Well-Being in Higher Education: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Education

Background:

• Higher education students face increasing mental health challenges impacting academic success.
• Critical thinking dispositions may enhance resilience and adaptive coping, supporting psychological well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the relationship between critical thinking dispositions and psychological well-being.
• Identify sociodemographic predictors of psychological well-being in this student population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 429 Portuguese higher education students.
• Utilized validated scales for critical thinking dispositions and psychological well-being.
• Employed correlational and regression analyses to examine relationships and predictors.

Main Results:

• Positive correlations found between critical thinking dispositions and all dimensions of psychological well-being.
• Confidence in reasoning, cognitive maturity, and open-mindedness significantly predicted psychological well-being.
• Inquisitiveness showed an unexpected negative association with psychological well-being.

Conclusions:

• Critical thinking dispositions appear protective of psychological well-being in university students.
• Curricular integration of emotional awareness and reflective thinking could foster resilience.
• Longitudinal research is recommended to explore causality and interventions.