In the age of the Internet and rapid 5G technological advancements, the use of computers and smartphones has become an integral part of daily life. Traditional media, such as newspapers and radios have gradually lost their dominant position in shaping public opinion. Online platforms now allow individuals to share their thoughts freely, leading to a more democratized flow of information (Zhang et al., 2022). University students, in particular, operate with greater freedom and autonomy in this digital landscape (Jiang et al., 2023). They can access primary information sources online with ease and actively express their perspectives, making them key contributors to the creation and evolution of online public opinion. However, because they are in a transitional phase of integrating into society, with values still in formation, they can be easily influenced or misled in environments rich with online discourse and freedom of expression. Thus, understanding the psychological and behavioral patterns of university students in relation to online public opinion is of critical importance. Psychologists have thus extended their research to digital domains to investigate how online interactions influence psychological states and behaviors (Hongxia et al., 2021; Xianliang et al., 2021).

The belief in a just world (BJW) is regarded as a crucial psychological resource that enhances individual survival and developmental prospects by serving dual adaptive and motivational functions (Dalbert, 2001). Adaptively, BJW helps maintain healthy behaviors and cognitive patterns. Dalbert and Stoeber (2006) found that BJW can predict an individual’s subjective well-being. A belief in a just world instills a sense of security and control, affecting cognition, actions, and emotional responses. Some studies suggest that individuals with strong BJW are better equipped to handle societal events and crises, demonstrating enhanced coping mechanisms and adaptability (Dalbert, 2001). Motivationally, BJW fosters the expectation of fair treatment, encouraging just actions toward others, compliance with social norms, and the cultivation of harmonious interpersonal relationships (Lerner, 1980). In the context of online public opinion, university students’ BJW can serve as a psychological support resource, influencing their interpretation and reaction to online information. This belief helps students remain calm and rational in a volatile online environment, better coping with the challenges and confusion posed by online public opinion.

Resilience is a personality trait characterized by the ability to overcome adversity and return to normal functioning (Connor and Davidson, 2003), as well as adapt well to life’s adversities, traumas, tragedies, threats, or significant stress. It refers to the dynamic developmental process individuals undergo when facing life events and setbacks (Scheffers et al., 2022). Existing research indicates that cyber victimization is a risk factor impacting resilience levels (Oydemir and Dikmen, 2024). Individuals coping with the perception of risk arising from online public opinion are highly susceptible to bring negative emotions to themselves (Skagerlund et al., 2020). Studies have found that social media use is closely related to the mental health of Chinese university students, offering connectivity and support, but also potentially facilitating social comparison and the stigmatization of mental illnesses (Zhang, 2024). In the context of online public opinion, students are more susceptible to external influences, particularly negative information, which can undermine their resilience.

Altruistic behavior refers to actions taken without self-serving motives that provide help and benefits to others (Shaw, 1991), also known as prosocial behavior. As a positive behavioral quality, altruism can enhance one’s sense of meaning and happiness in life (Moynihan et al., 2015; Van Tongeren et al., 2016). Essentially, online altruism is no different from offline altruism; it involves consciously helping others in the internet environment, representing a form of positive online behavior (Xianliang et al., 2021; Wright and Li, 2011).

A review of past literature reveals that researchers tend to select university students as subjects when studying positive online behaviors (such as altruism) (Zheng et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2023). This is likely because, on current online platforms, university students possess the physical vigor of youth, the emerging adulthood that stimulates their sense of social responsibility, and a high frequency of activity that positions them as the main users of the Internet in researchers’ eyes. For example, in academic contexts, students share study resources online, answer peers’ academic questions, and share tips or methods for improving study efficiency. Outside of studying, many students post travel guides, shopping plans, game reviews, or promote charity projects on social media.

Focusing on online altruism at the academic level can help promote the benefits of the Internet to the public, enhance students’ mental health, reverse harmful stereotypes about the Internet, and regulate the online environment. Thus, online altruism holds significant research value.

Exploring the psychological and behavioral dimensions of university students in the era of online public opinion aids in understanding and predicting how they adapt and behave. By identifying key influencing factors such as gender, family background, economic status, and social support systems, educational institutions and families can develop effective intervention strategies. Moreover, such research provides valuable insights for policymakers and mental health professionals to design targeted mental health promotion and intervention programs, thereby enhancing the overall well-being and social adaptability of university students.

This study aimed to explore the psychological and behavioral states of university students influenced by online public opinion, thus identifying key factors affecting these states. Findings indicate that a substantial portion of students (67.3%) perceive online public discourse primarily as an outlet for emotional expression. Additionally, online public opinion impacts the emotions and mental health of 34.8% of participants considerably, with 19.5% reporting a very high degree of impact. Furthermore, 30.4% of students believe that online public opinion affects their learning efficiency, while 20.7% regard the impact as very high. Notably, 30.5% have encountered strong emotional responses triggered by online public opinion. These findings underscore the necessity for further research and interventions targeting the psychological and behavioral aspects of university students in relation to online public opinion.

Key predictive variables, such as belief in a just world (BJW), psychological resilience (CD-RISC), and online altruistic behavior (IAB), were identified through analysis of factors including gender, parental attitudes, peer relationships, psychological resilience, and sensitivity to negative content. Gender emerges as a significant predictor of BJW, with female students exhibiting higher scores ( β = 0.082, P < 0.001), potentially reflecting a greater sensitivity to social justice and empathy (Oydemir and Dikmen, 2024; Sánchez-Prada et al., 2022; Etchezahar et al., 2022). Children’s opinions respected by parents predict higher BJW ( β = 0.063, P < 0.001), highlighting the importance of the family environment in shaping perceptions of justice. Adverse childhood environments are associated with psychological issues (Ningning et al., 2023), and strong parental psychological control is linked to lower BJW (Sun et al., 2023). Positive peer relationships are found to predict higher BJW scores ( β = −0.088, P < 0.001). Additionally, psychological resilience is significantly positively correlated with BJW ( β = 0.456, P < 0.001), suggesting that higher resilience enhances beliefs in a just world. Interestingly, sensitivity to negative content correlates with higher BJW ( β = 0.108, P < 0.001), likely owing to increased awareness and reflection on injustice.

Examining predictors of psychological resilience, this study finds significant factors including family economic status, parental attitudes, peer relationships, engagement with online public opinion, sensitivity to negative content, BJW, and IAB. Better economic conditions foster greater resilience ( β = −0.069, P < 0.001), aligning with existing literature (Tang et al., 2024). Parental respect for children’s viewpoints enhances resilience ( β = 0.071, P < 0.001), highlighting supportive family dynamics (Qi and Wu, 2024). Positive peer relationships ( β = −0.086, P < 0.001) and active engagement with online public opinion ( β = 0.058, P < 0.001) also contribute to higher resilience, suggesting the protective role of social support and information (Li et al., 2024; Wu et al., 2024). However, high sensitivity to negative content inversely affects resilience ( β = −0.100, P < 0.001), as negative emotions might compromise coping strategies. The results of a previous study also suggest that individuals generate emotional feedback according to the risk characteristics associated with different types of online opinions, and that risk perception is most likely to trigger negative emotions (Skagerlund et al., 2020). Higher BJW and IAB scores are also associated with higher CD-RISC scores ( β = 0.429, P < 0.001; β = 0.190, P < 0.001), suggesting that belief in a just world and moderate internet use enhance resilience.

When predicting online altruistic behavior, significant factors include gender, academic year, attention to online opinions, sensitivity to negative content, and levels of resilience (CD-RISC). Males exhibit greater online altruistic behavior (IAB) ( β = −0.130, P < 0.001), and higher-grade students score lower ( β = −0.077, P < 0.001), possibly due to academic pressures limiting time for altruistic activities. Higher levels of attention to online opinion correlate with increased altruism ( β = 0.069, P < 0.001), perhaps as students express their stance positively. Sensitivity to negative content relates to higher altruistic behavior (IAB) ( β = 0.146, P < 0.001), likely as a coping mechanism for emotional release and seeking social support. Research has found that social trust mediates the relationship between negative news and helping behavior, with excessive exposure to negative news reducing social trust and decreasing helping behavior (Han et al., 2019). Notably, CD-RISC scores are significantly positively correlated with IAB scores ( β = 0.242, P < 0.001), indicating that individuals with strong resilience can maintain a positive mindset in the face of stress and challenges and are more capable of engaging in altruistic behavior. These individuals can see the positive aspects of adversity and are willing to help others to promote their recovery and growth. Contrary to some studies that found BJW predicts altruistic actions (Wang et al., 2023; Jiang et al., 2017), our study does not reflect this, possibly due to demographic variations.

The study highlights the importance of peer relationships in predicting CD-RISC and BJW scores. As university students gradually separate from their parents and seek peer support, the influence of peers at school becomes stronger (Li et al., 2020). Positive peer relationships can reduce behavioral problems and improve mental health and life satisfaction (Cuicui et al., 2023), while adverse peer relationships can lead to negative emotions (Smith et al., 2014). The university environment is unique, with peer relationships at its core. In the context of online public opinion, the importance of peer relationships is even more pronounced. As online platforms become crucial for university students’ communication, online public opinion continually affects their emotions and behavior. Online interactions among peers facilitate timely sharing and discussion of information, helping each other cope with the impact of online public opinion’s impact. Positive peer relationships extend beyond offline communication to online interactions, enhancing resilience through network support and empathy. Mutual trust and understanding within peer relationships help students maintain rationality when facing complex online information, reducing the likelihood of being misled and fostering healthy beliefs. Moreover, good peer relationships enhance trust and security, making students more likely to believe in a just world (Cuicui et al., 2023). This positive interpersonal interaction experience strengthens their beliefs in fairness and justice.

Expanding the discussion on how online public opinion impacts psychological resilience, educators and policymakers can play a critical role in enhancing students’ resilience. Specific interventions could include organizing workshops and training sessions focused on developing critical thinking and emotional regulation skills. Such initiatives can empower students to identify and manage negative opinions effectively, boosting their resilience. Further, schools can create support groups where students discuss and address the effects of online public opinion collaboratively. Policymakers can implement more robust internet usage policies that protect student privacy while mitigating the spread of negative content online. Additionally, schools and universities can establish mental health resource centers that provide timely psychological support. Courses on resilience-building and online etiquette can also be integrated into the curriculum to promote healthy online habits and communication skills. Lastly, family engagement activities can be conducted to enhance the home environment’s supportive role in student mental health.

The results indicate that psychological resilience can positively predict online altruistic behavior, and online altruistic behavior can also positively predict psychological resilience. Previous research has found that for university students, high altruistic behavior can reduce the impact of negative emotions and enhance well-being (Lu et al., 2021). When individuals receive more social support from online environments, they experience more positive emotions, which facilitates altruistic behavior (Feng and Zhang, 2022). Therefore, online altruistic behavior not only significantly affects university students’ positive psychological qualities but also helps establish a virtuous cycle.

This study highlights how online public opinion significantly affects the psychological adaptation and behavioral performance of college students. The findings demonstrate that factors such as gender, family economic status, parents’ attitudes, relationships with classmates, and responses to negative online content significantly influence scores on the BJW, the CD-RISC, and the IAB. Significant predictors for BJW include gender, parents’ attitudes, relationships with classmates, the impact of negative content, and psychological resilience. For CD-RISC, significant predictors include family economic status, parents’ attitudes, relationships with classmates, attention to online public opinion, the impact of negative content, BJW, and IAB. Significant predictors for IAB include gender, grade level, attention to online public opinion, the impact of negative content, and psychological resilience. Overall, the study underscores the need for targeted interventions by families and schools to foster good mental health and positive behavior among college students in the digital age. Future research could benefit from longitudinal data to further explore these dynamics.

This study presents several limitations that warrant consideration. First, the reliance on a cross-sectional design restricts our ability to establish causality between online public opinion and the psychological and behavioral responses observed in college students. Future research employing longitudinal methods could better elucidate these causal relationships over time.

Second, the study utilized a convenience sample drawn from universities in Xuzhou City, which may not fully capture the diversity of the broader college student population. This limitation affects the generalizability of our findings to other regions and cultural settings.

Third, data collection was based primarily on self-reported measures, which are inherently subject to social desirability and recall biases. Despite implementing a common method bias test, the accuracy of some responses may still be compromised.

Additionally, the small sample size of this study reduces the generalizability of our findings to a larger population.

Finally, while analysis accounted for variables such as family economic status and parental attitudes, it is important to acknowledge that other unmeasured factors—such as personal experiences with online harassment or available support systems—could significantly influence students’ psychological resilience and online behaviors. Future studies should aim to incorporate a more comprehensive array of influencing factors and consider the use of mixed-method approaches to provide deeper insights into these dynamics.