Contextual extension and validation of the Fo Mentality Scale among Chinese college students

Fo Mentality is a culturally embedded psychological orientation rooted in the Chinese sociocultural context and prevalent among contemporary young adults. Although labeled with the term "Fo" (Buddha), the construct represents a secular psychological orientation rather than Buddhist beliefs or religious practices. Existing measures of Fo Mentality have been developed primarily in workplace contexts, and whether this conceptualization applies to college students, whose experiences differ in academic demands, evaluation systems, and developmental tasks, remains unclear. The present study aimed to adapt and validate the Fo Mentality Scale for use among Chinese college students. Drawing on the conceptual framework and item content of the Workplace Fo Mentality Scale, qualitative analyses were conducted to assess contextual relevance and refine item wording for the university setting. A total of 1,166 college students were randomly divided into two independent subsamples for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and an additional sample of 500 students was recruited to examine criterion-related validity. Results supported a stable four-factor structure comprising External Reward Detachment, Contentment with the Status Quo, Interpersonal Compliance, and Achievement Deprioritization. The adapted scale demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity, and Fo Mentality showed positive associations with subjective well-being but negative associations with creativity. The findings extend the application of the Fo Mentality construct beyond workplace contexts and provide a psychometrically sound measure for assessing Fo Mentality among Chinese college students.