Perceived Social Support as Mediator between Psychological Distress and Job Satisfaction among Faculty Members in A State University During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of perceived social support and its supposed mediating function in psychological distress to job satisfaction. Research was done through the utilization of K-10 Psychological Distress Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Job Satisfaction Survey employed to 139 college faculty members of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Based on the findings, it was revealed that respondents were suffering from moderate psychological distress (mean=25.95, SD = 7.71). Also it was indicated that the overall mean of perceived social support of the respondents was 4.67 which signified that most college faculty members had moderate level of social support from their families, colleagues, and significant others. Among these, social support from colleagues got the highest mean which was 5.31 (SD=1.29), followed by significant others of 4.82 (SD=1.58) and lastly, the family with 3.90 (SD=1.32).

In addition, results indicated that the overall mean of job satisfaction was 3.47 which mean that most of the faculty members were only moderately satisfied in their teaching job. Among the subdimensions, the highest were supervision (mean=4.00, SD=0.64), Co-workers (mean=3.98, SD=0.67), and Nature of work (mean=3.96, SD=0.56). However, the lowest scores were noted on: Pay (mean=3.23, SD=0.66), Fringe Benefits (mean=3.03, SD=0.51) and lastly, the operating conditions (mean=2.87, SD=0.56); while results showed that psychological distress was negatively correlated in terms of the subdimensions such as: fringe benefits (r = -1.77, p < .05) to teacher job satisfaction; (r=-0.170, p=0.05), while contingent incentives have a large but weak negative link with psychological distress (r=-0.234, p=0.01). Other subdimensions were reported to insignificant.

Lastly, results revealed that perceived social support did not mediate the relationship of psychological distress to job satisfaction. The indirect effect was tested using the Sobel test and was found to be insignificant (B = 0.78, SE = 0.01, p = 0.43).

This research will serve as the foundation for a set of recommendations that will encourage and promote a safe work environment and several interventions that will ensure teaching employee satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing a wellness program.