Research on the impact of economic stress on young adults’ marital intentions from the perspective of social exchange theory: a study on the mediating role of psychological capital

Introduction Drawing on social exchange theory, this study examined the impact of economic pressure on young people’s marital intentions, with a focus on the mediating role of psychological capital. Methods This study used Mplus 8.0 structural equation modeling and SPSS 26.0 to analyze questionnaire data. Specifically, descriptive analysis was conducted on control variables such as sex, age, and education using SPSS, and differential analysis and reliability testing were performed on each variable; Mplus was used to compare the validity of various variables through model competition, and the relevant hypotheses of this study were also validated. Results The results indicated a significant negative correlation between economic pressure and marital intentions ( β = −0.411, p < 0.01), as well as between economic pressure and psychological capital ( β = −0.392, p < 0.01). Conversely, psychological capital was positively correlated with marital intentions ( β = 0.529, p < 0.01). Furthermore, psychological capital partially mediated the relationship between economic pressure and marital intentions. Conclusion These findings suggest that economic pressure may diminish marital intentions in young adults partly by depleting psychological capital. The study highlights the importance of enhancing psychological resources in interventions aimed at supporting young people’s marriage decisions, offering practical implications for policymakers and mental health practitioners working with young adults.