A Holistic Approach to College Education: The Impact of Ideological and Political Education on Students' Mental Health, Resilience, and Academic Performance

The role of Ideological and Political Education (IPE) in holistic higher education is being increasingly identified due to its possible effects on students' psychological adjustment and academic development. This research employed a quantitative-dominant mixed method design to explore the relationships between IPE, mental health, resilience and academic performance within a positive psychology and educational psychology framework. The quantitative component consisted of 532 students from three universities, which was divided into two equal groups, experimental and control (n = 266). The experimental group was introduced to a programme of integrated IPE and Psychological education for a period of six weeks. The results indicated that there was a significant pre test–post test improvement in IPE, mental health, resilience and academic performance (all p < 0.001), and Cohen's d ranged from 0.246 to 0.382. The experimental group also had better post-test results. The sequential pathway from IPE to academic performance via mental health and resilience (β = 0.027, p < 0.001), along with direct paths from mental health (β = 0.166, p < 0.001) and IPE (β = 0.220, p < 0.001) to academic performance were supported by PLS-SEM. 64 participants provided qualitative feedback that further supported self-awareness, stress management, adaptive coping, and good study habits. The results offer an explanation for the potential of IPE in relation to students' holistic development, based on a psychological lens.