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The impact of perceived discrimination, positive aspects of caregiving on depression among caregivers: mediating effect of job satisfaction

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Abstract

Depression is a prevalent disorder among domestic workers, including caregivers. Perceived discrimination and positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) may be predictors of caregivers’ depression. Using caregiver sample from domestic workers data (N = 611), we explored the association between perceived discrimination, PAC and depression of caregivers via introducing the mediating effect of job satisfaction. Amos (version 22.0) was used to conduct structural equation modeling (SEM), and bootstrap estimation method was deployed to examine the mediating effect in the model. The results demonstrated that perceived discrimination has a significant positive impact on the rate of depression, while PAC was significantly negatively associated with caregivers’ depression. The findings of this study also confirmed the mediating effect of job satisfaction in the relationship between perceived discrimination, PAC, and depression. The results of the study may provide practical implications for individual caregivers, employers and policy makers to attach great importance on caregivers’ mental well-being.

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Data Availability

Data is obtained from Domestic Workers Survey from June to July in 2019 by a research team led by Professor Linping Liu. Currently, Mr. Liu is a professor at School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University. The data that support the findings of this study are available from corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgments

This study is a phased achievement of a key project of the National Social Science Fund “Research on the Employment Relations of Domestic Workers in the Internet Age” (Project No. 18ASH007). The authors thank Meiqin, Leng, PhD, for offering valuable advice on research analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210046, Jiangsu Province, China

    Maitixirepu Jilili & Anuo Yang

  2. School of Public Administration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang Province, China

    Linping Liu

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  1. Maitixirepu Jilili
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  2. Linping Liu
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  3. Anuo Yang
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Correspondence to Linping Liu.

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Jilili, M., Liu, L. & Yang, A. The impact of perceived discrimination, positive aspects of caregiving on depression among caregivers: mediating effect of job satisfaction. Curr Psychol 42, 194–202 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01397-0

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