PsyCh Journal
Volume 8, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 307-317

Job stress and depressive symptoms among migrant workers in Macau: A moderated mediation model of self-esteem and perceived social support (Article) (Open Access)

Li Q. , Chi P.* , Hall B.J. , Wu Q. , Du H.
  • a Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau
  • b Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau
  • c Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
  • d Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau
  • e Department of Psychology, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China, Social and Health Psychology Research Center, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China

Abstract

Damaged self-esteem can explain the negative effects of various job stresses on depressive symptoms of migrant workers. Social support may threaten workers’ self-esteem in highly stressful environments, and in turn worsen their mental health. This study aimed to examine the indirect role of self-esteem in the relationship between job stress and depressive symptoms among migrant workers in Macau and whether this indirect effect is modified by social support. A sample of 900 mainland Chinese migrant workers was recruited into the study. Job stress, social support, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms were measured. Conditional process analysis was used to examine the proposed moderated mediation model. Job stress was associated with depressive symptoms through lower self-esteem. The indirect effect of job stress on depressive symptoms via decreased self-esteem was significant among migrant workers with higher levels of social support, but not among migrant workers with lower levels of social support. Our findings suggest that when migrant workers perceive a high level of social support, job stress is more likely to threaten their self-esteem and in turn increase their risk for depression. Future efforts aimed at promoting the mental health of migrant workers need to tailor interventions to avoid the threatening effect of social support on self-esteem in job environments with high stress. © 2019 The Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd

Author Keywords

Perceived social support Self-esteem Chinese migrants Job stress Depressive symptoms

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071471845&doi=10.1002%2fpchj.298&partnerID=40&md5=6d952658c621c74819b6cf9b55453ee3
DOI: 10.1002/pchj.298
ISSN: 20460260
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English