Self-Identity Exploration and Sense of Belonging in College Freshmen's Adjustment: The Moderating Role of Psychological Resilience

College freshmen often face adjustment difficulties during the transition to university life, including academic stress, emotional struggles, and social disconnection. While self-identity exploration is a key developmental task in emerging adulthood, its psychological outcomes remain mixed. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms through which identity exploration influences adjustment, focusing on the mediating role of sense of belonging and the moderating role of psychological resilience.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 356 first-year university students in China. Participants completed standardized scales measuring identity exploration, sense of belonging, psychological resilience, and adjustment difficulties. Regression-based moderated mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro (Model 14). Robustness was tested through instrumental variable (IV) analysis.