GROUP 12_Introduction Chapter_Class7.

CHAPTER I:​ ​ INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Minimalism, once a niche countercultural movement emerging in the late 20th century as
a reaction to consumerism and material excess, has now grown into a global lifestyle
trend. From interior design and digital detoxing to sustainable consumption, minimalism
has increasingly been adopted by individuals seeking clarity, intentionality, and improved
well-being. In recent years, technological saturation, environmental challenges, and
mental health concerns have brought minimalism into mainstream consciousness.
Looking forward, the trend is predicted to evolve into a long-term cultural shift as
individuals, particularly younger generations, become more aware of sustainability,
purpose-driven living, and psychological resilience.

In the past, minimalism was closely associated with the aesthetic realm—simple
architecture, clean spaces, and functionality over form. Today, however, its evolution
reflects a deeper psychological and philosophical stance. Many see it as a lifestyle
response to "decision fatigue," material overload, and chronic digital distraction. For
instance, studies from institutions such as the American Psychological Association (APA)
have shown that reducing clutter in one’s environment can lead to lower cortisol1 levels
and better sleep quality.

Despite these benefits, minimalism has also sparked debate. Critics argue that the trend
has become commodified, losing its essence as it is marketed as a luxury lifestyle
available only to those with the means to choose simplicity. Others point out cultural
barriers—what is considered “minimal” in Western society may not be practical or
relevant in Southeast Asian contexts where familial responsibilities and multigenerational

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Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It plays a crucial role in the body’s stress response,
helping regulate metabolism, blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation. High levels of cortisol are often
associated with chronic stress, anxiety, and poor sleep.

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living are common. Thus, while minimalism carries universal appeal, its manifestation
differs across societies, socioeconomic levels, and personal needs.

The choice to study university students is intentional. Young adults, particularly those in
university settings, are navigating critical transitions—academically, socially, financially,
and psychologically. They experience pressure from academic performance expectations,
social identity formation, and the challenge of future planning. At the same time, they are
the most digitally engaged generation, continuously exposed to social media trends and
cultural shifts. As a result, students are both highly susceptible to and influential in
shaping contemporary lifestyle practices.

In the Vietnamese context, HUFLIT (Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages
and Information Technology) represents a dynamic urban student population. The campus
environment reflects diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, study disciplines, and social
values, making it an ideal context for examining how minimalist values are being
understood and practiced. Local observations, supported by initial informal surveys and
media analysis, indicate a rise in HUFLIT students who intentionally reduce
consumption, unfollow influencers promoting consumerism and choose to spend their
time and money on meaningful activities like volunteering, journaling, or traveling.

Although global studies have explored the mental health benefits of minimalism, there is
a significant gap in Vietnam-specific research, particularly among students. No
substantial data currently exists to explain whether Vietnamese university students adopt
minimalism for emotional clarity, financial survival, social belonging, or environmental
ethics, or how such practices impact their psychological well-being. This research fills
that void by investigating the lived experiences of minimalist HUFLIT students,
analyzing patterns, and identifying relationships between lifestyle choices and mental
health.

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1.2 Significance of the Research

1.2.1 Academic Contributions

This research makes a twofold academic contribution. First, it enriches the theoretical
discourse on minimalism by grounding it in the Vietnamese student experience, an angle
largely absent from current literature. While many Western studies examine minimalism
as a post-capitalist or spiritual practice, this study explores how a generation shaped by
collectivist cultural norms, rising urbanization, and economic pressure adapts the same
principles. Second, it provides new empirical data linking lifestyle behaviors with
psychological outcomes, contributing to the fields of youth studies, behavioral science,
and mental health education.

Unlike general reviews of consumer behavior or sustainability, this study focuses on

minimalism as a coping strategy—a deliberate, student-led form of lifestyle management.
It recognizes minimalist behavior not only as a response to material excess but also as an
emotional and cognitive tool. The research outcomes may serve as baseline data for
subsequent studies investigating the role of value-driven lifestyles in managing mental
health among students.

1.2.2 Practical Contributions

From a practical standpoint, this research has implications for four main groups: students,
educators, mental health professionals, and policy-makers.

For students, the study highlights how intentional lifestyle choices such as minimalism
may alleviate stress, improve focus, and cultivate a sense of control. Practical outcomes
include recommendations on decluttering strategies, mindful consumption, and digital
detox routines tailored to student life.

For educators and administrators at HUFLIT, the findings can help develop wellness
programs, student affairs initiatives, or extracurricular activities that align with students’

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values and psychological needs. Integrating minimalist practices into student support
services could foster healthier academic environments.

Mental health professionals working with young adults can use this research to better
understand emerging lifestyle coping mechanisms. Counseling services can integrate
minimalist principles into therapy sessions or wellness coaching to support students in
managing anxiety, burnout, or decision fatigue.

Lastly, for policy-makers and youth-oriented organizations, the results provide insight
into how the minimalist lifestyle intersects with sustainable development, education
policy, and public health campaigns. Promoting minimalism within student populations
could contribute to long-term behavioral change, enhancing both individual and societal
well-being.

1.3 Research Objectives

●​ To identify the key psychological, environmental, and social factors (X, Y, Z)

influencing the adoption of a minimalist lifestyle among HUFLIT students.

●​ To examine the level of impact that each factor has on the students’ engagement

with minimalism.
●​ To determine if demographic variables (e.g., gender, academic discipline, year of

study) significantly affect students’ minimalist behaviors.

●​ To assess the relationship between minimalist lifestyle practices and perceived

mental well-being outcomes.

●​ To propose evidence-based recommendations that encourage healthy, value-driven

minimalist practices among students.

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1.4 Theoretical Framework

1.4.1 Introduction

This study explores the impact of a minimalist lifestyle on the mental well-being of
students at HUFLIT by grounding its investigation in two key theoretical perspectives:
the Theory of Minimalism and Well-being and the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) Theory.
These frameworks together offer a comprehensive foundation for understanding both the
psychological outcomes associated with minimalist practices and the internal value
systems that motivate students to adopt such a lifestyle.

The theoretical framework not only supports the formulation of research objectives and
hypotheses but also ensures a deeper interpretation of the findings by explaining not just
what happens, but also why it happens.

1.4.2 Theory of Minimalism and Its Psychological Benefits

The first theoretical foundation, the Theory of Minimalism and Well-being, posits that
intentionally simplifying one's life—by reducing material possessions, limiting
unnecessary commitments, and focusing on meaningful experiences—can significantly
enhance mental health and emotional balance. This theory suggests that minimalism, as a
conscious lifestyle choice, enables individuals to redirect their attention from external
accumulation to internal clarity.

In the context of students, especially those navigating the dynamic pressures of academic
performance, social expectations, financial stress, and digital overload, minimalism
serves as a strategic means of coping and self-regulation. For instance, by decluttering
personal spaces, limiting digital distractions, or choosing meaningful over superficial
social interactions, students can reduce mental fatigue and improve overall focus.

This theory directly informs the study’s expectation that students who practice
minimalism—whether through spatial, emotional, or digital simplification—are more
likely to experience lower levels of stress and anxiety, and higher levels of contentment,
emotional regulation, and psychological resilience.

Why was this theory chosen?​

The Theory of Minimalism and Well-being is highly relevant to this research because it
directly addresses how lifestyle choices can affect mental health outcomes. Given that
HUFLIT students are experiencing increasing academic and societal pressures, this

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theory provides a solid foundation to examine how adopting minimalist practices can
help mitigate these pressures and enhance emotional stability. It aligns with the study's
goal to explore the mental benefits of minimalism in the student population.

1.4.3 Value-Belief-Norm Theory: Understanding Motivation and Intent

While the first theory focuses on outcomes, the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) Theory
(Stern, 2000) provides a socio-psychological explanation of the motivations that drive
students to adopt minimalist practices in the first place. Originally formulated to explain
pro-environmental behavior, the VBN theory outlines a linear chain from personal values
to beliefs, which then activate personal norms that guide behavior.

In this research, the theory is adapted to the lifestyle context, where values such as
self-discipline, inner harmony, and simplicity shape students' beliefs about the negative
impact of materialism or overstimulation on mental well-being. These beliefs, in turn,
give rise to personal norms that lead students to consciously reduce their consumption,
limit digital exposure, or focus on meaningful engagements.

For HUFLIT students, especially those influenced by current trends in sustainability,

mental health awareness, or mindfulness practices, this value-belief-norm pathway can
strongly predict their choice to embrace a minimalist lifestyle. The theory also allows this
research to distinguish between students who adopt minimalism as a result of deeply held
convictions (intentional minimalists) and those who do so due to external circumstances
such as financial limitations (situational minimalists), thereby offering a richer
interpretation of the correlation between minimalism and mental well-being.

Why was this theory chosen?​

The VBN theory was selected for its explanatory power regarding why students choose to
adopt minimalism. It helps the study go beyond surface-level behavioral analysis and
instead explore the inner value systems and moral frameworks that influence
decision-making. This is particularly suitable for the HUFLIT context, where emerging
lifestyle trends, environmental awareness, and the pursuit of mental wellness increasingly
influence students.

1.4.4 Integrating Theories: A Dual-Lens Approach

Integrating these two theories creates a dual-lens framework for the study: the Theory of
Minimalism and Well-being guides the examination of the psychological effects of

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minimalist practices, while the VBN Theory sheds light on the cognitive and moral
mechanisms underlying students’ decisions to live minimally.

This integration ensures that the study does not merely examine behavioral patterns or
surface-level correlations but instead investigates the deeper cognitive and emotional
processes that connect lifestyle choices with mental well-being outcomes. It also allows
the research to approach mental well-being not as an isolated psychological state, but as a
result of value-driven decisions and intentional living patterns.

By applying this integrated theoretical approach, the study can better understand how and
why minimalism might serve as a protective or enhancing factor in student mental health.
It offers the basis for constructing reliable measurement tools, selecting relevant
variables, and ultimately designing evidence-based interventions that support student
well-being through intentional lifestyle changes.

1.5 Research Questions

●​ What are the psychological, social, and environmental motivators behind HUFLIT

students’ adoption of minimalism?

●​ To what extent do individual factors (such as financial pressure or personal values)

influence the depth of minimalist practices?

●​ How does minimalist living impact students’ mental health indicators, such as

stress, anxiety, or emotional clarity?

●​ Do patterns of minimalist behavior differ significantly across different student

demographics at HUFLIT?
●​ What actionable frameworks or guidelines can support students in sustainably

integrating minimalism into their daily lives?

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1.6 Scope and Limitations

1.6.1 Scopes

●​ Scope of subject: Undergraduate students enrolled at HUFLIT across a variety of

academic departments and age groups, including full-time and part-time learners.
●​ Scope of time: The research is framed between September 2025 and January 2026,
capturing data during a semester marked by both academic pressure and holiday
consumption behaviors.
●​ Scope of spatial range: The study is specifically conducted within HUFLIT’s
campuses in Ho Chi Minh City, reflecting an urban student environment.
●​ Scope of content: The focus is placed on the intersection between minimalist
lifestyle adoption and mental well-being outcomes, including stress levels,
decision-making patterns, and emotional regulation. Broader lifestyle or economic
analyses are beyond the scope.

1.6.2 Limitations

This research faces several limitations. First, its cross-sectional design prevents analysis
of behavioral shifts over time. Longitudinal studies would provide deeper insight into
evolving attitudes toward minimalism. Second, reliance on self-reported data introduces
potential bias, especially regarding sensitive topics like mental health. Third, since the
research is confined to HUFLIT, generalization to other Vietnamese universities should
be made cautiously. Finally, limited access to qualitative interviews may reduce the
richness of interpretive data.

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1.7 Organization of the Study

This research is structured into five chapters, each designed to comprehensively explore
the connection between minimalist lifestyle practices and mental well-being among
students at HUFLIT:

●​ Chapter 1: Introduction ​
This chapter introduces the phenomenon of minimalism as an emerging lifestyle
trend among university students in Vietnam, with a focus on HUFLIT. It outlines
the rationale for selecting this specific population, the relevance of the topic to
mental well-being, and the key research gaps this study aims to address. The
research objectives, questions, significance, scope, and limitations are also clearly
defined to establish the foundation of the investigation.
●​ Chapter 2: Literature Review ​
This chapter synthesizes theoretical perspectives and previous studies on
minimalism and student mental health. It explores concepts such as value-based
living, psychological resilience, and sustainable behavior within the student
demographic. The review identifies a lack of localized research in Vietnam,
especially regarding how minimalism influences mental well-being among
university students, thus reinforcing the necessity of the current study.
●​ Chapter 3: Methodology ​
This chapter details the methodological approach taken to explore the influence of
minimalist living on HUFLIT students' mental well-being. It includes the research
design, sample selection, and development of the questionnaire, as well as data
collection and analysis procedures. Specific attention is paid to how the
instruments measure both minimalist tendencies and psychological well-being in
the student context.
●​ Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion ​
This chapter presents the analyzed data collected from HUFLIT students and
interprets the findings in relation to the research objectives. It explores the strength

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of relationships between factors such as personal values, financial constraints,

environmental awareness, psychological stress, and students’ engagement with
minimalism. The discussion links these findings with the literature and addresses
how minimalism may enhance or relate to students' mental well-being.
●​ Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations ​
The final chapter summarizes the research results, emphasizing the extent to which
minimalist living affects HUFLIT students' mental well-being. It discusses the
practical implications of the findings for students, university services, and
policy-makers. The chapter also outlines limitations and provides specific
recommendations for promoting intentional living and mental health support
initiatives among student populations.

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