Mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the COVID-19 era

ObjectiveThis study investigates the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among young healthcare graduates in Bolivia during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis within a cohort study was conducted using data from...

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Main Authors: Lea John, María Teresa Solís-Soto, Katja Radon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1490004/full
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author Lea John
Lea John
María Teresa Solís-Soto
María Teresa Solís-Soto
Katja Radon
Katja Radon
author_facet Lea John
Lea John
María Teresa Solís-Soto
María Teresa Solís-Soto
Katja Radon
Katja Radon
author_sort Lea John
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThis study investigates the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among young healthcare graduates in Bolivia during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis within a cohort study was conducted using data from 109 healthcare graduates from Bolivia collected through an online survey in 2022. The survey measured employment status, mental distress with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and perceived social support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Mediation analysis was performed in R to examine the mediating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between unemployment and mental distress.ResultsMore than two-thirds of participants reported mental distress. Consistent with the main effect model, employment was directly associated with lower levels of mental distress, and perceived social support was positively related to better mental health. However, perceived social support did not statistically significant mediate the impact of unemployment on mental distress, with only 2.1% of the effect being mediated through perceived social support.ConclusionDespite the beneficial effect of perceived social support on mental health, it did not significantly mediate the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among Bolivian healthcare graduates during COVID-19. The findings highlight the need for targeted mental health support that go beyond social support for unemployed healthcare graduates during crises.
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spelling doaj-art-1b44d36d01414f7f97be5cb06ce64c662025-01-28T05:10:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14900041490004Mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the COVID-19 eraLea John0Lea John1María Teresa Solís-Soto2María Teresa Solís-Soto3Katja Radon4Katja Radon5Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of LMU Munich, Munich, GermanyCenter for International HealthLMU at Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of LMU Munich, Munich, GermanyInstitute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of LMU Munich, Munich, GermanyOH TARGET Competence Center, Universidad San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Sucre, BoliviaInstitute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of LMU Munich, Munich, GermanyCenter for International HealthLMU at Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of LMU Munich, Munich, GermanyObjectiveThis study investigates the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among young healthcare graduates in Bolivia during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis within a cohort study was conducted using data from 109 healthcare graduates from Bolivia collected through an online survey in 2022. The survey measured employment status, mental distress with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and perceived social support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Mediation analysis was performed in R to examine the mediating effect of perceived social support on the relationship between unemployment and mental distress.ResultsMore than two-thirds of participants reported mental distress. Consistent with the main effect model, employment was directly associated with lower levels of mental distress, and perceived social support was positively related to better mental health. However, perceived social support did not statistically significant mediate the impact of unemployment on mental distress, with only 2.1% of the effect being mediated through perceived social support.ConclusionDespite the beneficial effect of perceived social support on mental health, it did not significantly mediate the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among Bolivian healthcare graduates during COVID-19. The findings highlight the need for targeted mental health support that go beyond social support for unemployed healthcare graduates during crises.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1490004/fullperceived social supportunemploymentmental distresshealthcare graduatesCOVID-19mediation analysis
spellingShingle Lea John
Lea John
María Teresa Solís-Soto
María Teresa Solís-Soto
Katja Radon
Katja Radon
Mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the COVID-19 era
Frontiers in Public Health
perceived social support
unemployment
mental distress
healthcare graduates
COVID-19
mediation analysis
title Mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the COVID-19 era
title_full Mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the COVID-19 era
title_fullStr Mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the COVID-19 era
title_full_unstemmed Mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the COVID-19 era
title_short Mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the COVID-19 era
title_sort mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between unemployment and mental distress among healthcare graduates during the covid 19 era
topic perceived social support
unemployment
mental distress
healthcare graduates
COVID-19
mediation analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1490004/full
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