The impact of employment stress on college students: psychological well-being during COVID-19 pandemic in China

Abstract

Employment among final year college students in China has encountered unprecedented difficulties during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the high unemployment rate had led college graduates faced inadvertently mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. This study aims to investigate the impact of employment stress on college students' psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. An online survey consisting of demographic items (i.e., age, gender, subject major, type of university, and perceived severity of the current employment situation), Employment Stress scale, Employment Anxiety Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire was employed for data collection. A total of 2,627 final year college students were recruited, with participants displayed below moderate levels of employment stress and anxiety. Approximately 13.2% of participants were depressed and 53.3% considered the current employment situation as severe. Female students were stressed by individual factors and anxious, whilst male students were more depressed. Arts students were less depressed and students from comprehensive universities were more depressed and anxious compared to other types of universities. Students who perceived the employment situation as very severe displayed the lowest level of employment stress and anxiety. Gender, university type, family stress, college stress, and individual stress are predictors of psychological well-being among college students. The family environment, female identity, and stress from university play a crucial role in college students’ psychological well-being. The government should pay more attention to the psychological well-being of graduate students and develop feasible measures to help them secure a job during this unprecedented time.

Mental well-being and sleep quality among vocational college students in Sichuan, China during standardized COVID-19 management measures

“…This accumulation of stressors can escalate physical and mental strain, potentially leading to severe health issues and psychological disturbances in extreme cases(?). Highlighting the importance of supporting students in their academic and professional endeavors as a means to promote mental well-being is crucial ( 48 , 49 ).…”

Factors that influence the intent to pursue a master’s degree: evidence from Shandong Province, China

“…Layoffs, salary cuts, and bankruptcies occur frequently and lead directly to a decrease in employment demand in the market and a reduction in employment opportunities for university students (Yang et al, 2022;Zheng et al, 2022). In this context, postponing employment by pursuing further study is a rational choice (Peng et al, 2023;Shi, 2023). Therefore, we propose the following hypothesis:Hypothesis 5:Social factors have a promoting effect on the intent to pursue an MD.…”

Potential categories of employment stress among rural college students and their relationship to employment psychology

“…Previous studies have shown that good employment psychology can help mobilize college students’ strong learning motivation and improve their comprehensive ability to adapt to the employment environment in China ( Luciano et al, 2021 ; Senekal and Smith, 2022 ). In contrast, poor employment psychology affects college students’ thinking patterns and memory and reduces their employment competitiveness ( Jackson and Tomlinson, 2020 ; Wan Mohd Yunus et al, 2021 ; Peng et al, 2023 ). In summary, good employment psychology is of great significance in promoting the successful employment of rural college students.…”