Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study examined how eudaimonic life values (ELV) influence employment stress (ES) among Chinese higher education students, focusing on the mediating role of employment mindset (EM) and the moderating effects of subject major and educational background. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to April 2025 among students aged 18-25 from 18 higher education institutions in Shenzhen, China. A total of 9,264 valid responses were analyzed using mediation and moderated mediation models. RESULTS: ELV significantly and negatively predicted both EM (β = -0.073, p < .001) and ES (β = -0.009, p < .001), while EM positively predicted ES (β = 0.125, p < .001). The indirect effect of ELV on ES via EM was significant (95% CI [-0.0102, -0.0082]), indicating partial mediation, with 50.8% of the total effect mediated. Both direct and indirect effects were moderated by subject major and educational background, with stronger effects observed among natural sciences and engineering students and those with higher educational levels. DISCUSSION: Findings highlight the role of cognitive-emotional processes in linking life values to employment stress and suggest that educational context shapes these relationships.