Exploring the predictive role of personal identity in trait anxiety: network and Bayesian evidence from Chinese college students.

Summary: Imagine being a college student trying to figure out who you are. It turns out that knowing yourself—having a strong "personal identity"—can actually protect you from feeling anxious all the time. Researchers asked over 600 college students about their personalities, their life meaning, and their anxiety levels. They found that students who felt sure about who they were had much less anxiety. In fact, knowing your identity was a very strong predictor of whether or not you would feel anxious. This means that helping young adults figure out who they are could be a great way to lower their stress and worry!