The impact of uncertainty stress and social support on the occupational well-being of healthcare professionals during public health emergencies

Abstract

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed substantial challenges to the occupational well-being of healthcare professionals. Uncertainty stress and social support are potentially substantial in influencing well-being during public health emergencies.

Objective

To assess the impact of uncertainty stress and social support on the occupational well-being of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and elucidate the pathways of interaction among these factors.

Methods

A cohort of 1028 healthcare professionals across 8 tertiary hospitals in Zhejiang Province were surveyed between May and June 2021 to evaluate their current occupational well-being, levels of uncertainty stress, and received social support. One-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression models were utilised to analyse the factors influencing occupational well-being. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to elucidate the pathways through which uncertainty stress and social support impact occupational well-being.

Results

The overall average score for the occupational well-being of healthcare professionals was 3.13 ± 1.02, indicating a moderate level. Pearson correlation analysis identified a significant negative correlation between uncertainty stress and occupational well-being (r = −0.456, P < 0.01) and a positive correlation between social support and occupational well-being (r = 0.219, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis highlighted that years of service, nature of employment, job position, leisure time, personality traits, self-rated health, uncertainty stress, subjective social support, and utilisation of social support were significant predictors of occupational well-being (P < 0.05 for each). The SEM analysis demonstrated that uncertainty stress directly reduced occupational well-being (β = −0.274, P < 0.05), whereas social support indirectly enhanced it by alleviating uncertainty stress (β = 0.130, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Uncertainty stress serves as a mediator in the relationship between social support and occupational well-being, with social support acting to buffer the effects of uncertainty stress and thereby enhance occupational well-being.