Objective To explore the potential inter-relationship among group identity

intergroup threat

individual self-esteem and collective self-esteem

and also to investigate the effect of group identity on mediation model.Methods A total of 452 students from Southwest University were surveyed using individual self-esteem scale

group identity scale

realistic threat scale

symbolic threat scale

and collective self-esteem scale.Data were collected and statistically analyzed.Results The group identity and individual self-esteem scores were significantly higher in urban college students compared with those from rural areas

whereas the realistic threat and symbolic threat scores were significantly lower in urban students（P<0.05）.In both urban and rural students

group identity was positively correlated with realistic threat and symbolic threat（P<0.01）

and negatively correlated with individual self-esteem（P<0.01）.The correlation between collective self-esteem and group identity or symbolic threat varied in different groups;in urban students

collective self-esteem was positively correlated with group identity（P<0.01）

negatively correlated with realistic threat（P<0.01）

but not correlated with symbolic threat;while in rural students

collective self-esteem was not correlated with group identity

but negatively correlated with realistic threat and symbolic threat（P<0.01）.In urban students

collective self-esteem and individual self-esteem had significant mediating effects on realistic and symbolic threat perception

respectively（both P<0.05）;in rural students

individual self-esteem played a significant mediating role in the perception of symbolic threat（P<0.05）.Conclusion Individual self-esteem and collective selfesteem play mediating roles in group identity and intergroup threat.For college students

realistic threat is mainly collective threat

while symbolic threat is mainly individual threat.