Building a "Mental Health Chain": The Value and Implementation of Affective Education in Vocational College Innovation-Entrepreneurship Integration from a Four-Chain Synergy Ecosystem Perspective
Year: 2026
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Objective This study explores the value and implementation pathways of affective education within the innovation-entrepreneurship integration model in higher vocational colleges, conceptualized through the ecosystem perspective of "Four-Chain Synergy" (integrating industry, education, talent, and innovation chains). It specifically investigates how nurturing a "Psychological-Emotional Chain" as a core coupling mechanism can enhance students' entrepreneurial mindset, resilience, and overall mental well-being. Subjects and Methods A sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Phase one involved documentary analysis of 10 college programs and semi-structured interviews with 30 stakeholders (educators, industry mentors, students). Phase Two utilized a survey with 350 students from pilot programs, measuring affective competencies (e.g., entrepreneurial self-efficacy, emotion regulation), perceived ecosystem support, and innovation behavior intentions. Data were integrated to map value logic and identify critical implementation factors. Results The "Psychological-Emotional Chain" was the crucial link for ecosystem synergy, correlating with higher entrepreneurial self-efficacy (β = 0.58, p<.01) and team satisfaction. Structured affective modules raised engagement by 40% and reduced stress-related project abandonment by 25%, demonstrating clear benefits for student mental health. Key implementation included mentor-led reflection, resilience training, and recognizing emotional labor. Conclusions Systematically integrating affective education as a "Psychological-Emotional Chain" is vital for sustainable innovation-entrepreneurship integration in vocational education. It enhances not only entrepreneurial competencies but also student mental well-being, thereby strengthening the entire Four-Chain Synergy ecosystem. This study provides a framework for operationalizing affective education within complex educational-industrial collaborations. Acknowledgement This work was supported by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education (Industry University Cooperation Collaborative Education Project): Construction and Practice of a Collaborative Education Model for Vocational College Innovation Integration Based on "Four Chain Collaboration", Project number: 428. Corresponding Author Li Li, Taizhou Vocational College of Science &Technology, School of Accounting & Finance, Zhejiang, Taizhou, 318020, China.
Source: Schizophrenia Bulletin
Author: Li Li
Institution: Taizhou Vocational College of Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7203647865