IEFInternational Education Forum3083-49022981-8605Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.10.26689/ief.v4i4.14888ArticleThe Influence of Employment Pressure on Depressive Symptoms Among College Students: A Mediating Model of Self-Efficacyhttps://artdesignp.com/journal/IEF/4/4/10.26689/ief.v4i4.14888MaLiwei,XuLanyue2026442026-04-28Aim: To look at how college students’ employment pressure influences their depression and to check what part self-efficacy plays in this relation. Methods: An online questionnaire was given to 365 college students. Structural equation modeling and the Bootstrap method were used to check the mediating effect. Results: Employment pressure can clearly raise the level of depression (β=0.36). Self-efficacy has a certain mediating effect between the two factors (indirect effect=0.056, accounting for 13.4%). Conclusion: Employment pressure can make depression worse by lowering people’s self-efficacy. Raising self-efficacy can reduce the bad mental influence brought by employment pressure.

Mastrokoukou S, Lin S, Longobardi C, et al., 2024, Resilience and Psychological Distress in the Transition to University: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation. Current Psychology, 43(28): 23675–23685. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-06138-7

Tu W, Liu Q, 2025, Employment Stress and Mental Health Among College Graduates: Exploring the Mediating Role of Psychological Resilience and Moderating Role of Proactive Personality. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 2025(18): 1099–1110. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM. S515661

Lei XY, Xiao LM, Liu YN, et al., 2016, Prevalence of Depression among Chinese University Students: A Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE, 11(4): e0153454. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153454

Peng Y, Lv S B, Low SR, et al., 2024, The Impact of Employment Stress on College Students: Psychological Well-being during COVID-19 Pandemic in China. Current Psychology, 43(20): 18647–18658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04785-w

Jiang S, 2024, The Effects of Social Support on College Students’ Employment Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital. Scientific and Social Research, 6(6): 113–122. https://doi.org/10.26689/ssr.v6i6.7348

Li T, Guan J, Huang Y, et al., 2025, The Effect of Stress on Depression in Postgraduate Students: Mediating Role of Research Self-Efficacy and Moderating Role of Growth Mindset. Behavioral Sciences, 15(3): 266. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15030266

Fürtjes S, Voss C, Rückert F, et al., 2023, Self-efficacy, Stress, and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents: An Epidemiological Cohort Study with Ecological Momentary Assessment. Journal of Mood & Anxiety Disorders, 2023(4): 100039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjmad.2023.100039

Zheng X, Mohd Puad MHAB, Jalil H, 2025, A Scoping Review of Job Search Self-efficacy over the Past 5 Years: Antecedents, Mechanisms, Consequences, and Future Directions Based on SCT/SCCT. Frontiers in Psychology, 2025(16): 1596847. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1596847

Huang X, Liu Y, Deng C, et al., 2024, Study on Employment Pressure on Chinese College Students and Constructing Higher Education Strategies in The Post-Epidemic Era. SHS Web of Conferences, 2024, 209: 01007. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202420901007

Behr S, Martinez Garcia L, et al., 2025, The Role of Self-efficacy in Internet-based interventions for Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Internet Interventions, 2025(40): 100821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2025.100821

Tomas J, 2021, Occupational Self-Efficacy as a Mediator in the Reciprocal Relationship between Job Demands and Mental Health Complaints: A Three-Wave Investigation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21): 11532. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111532

Guo ZQ, 2021, Psychological Status and Coping Suggestions for Employment Pressure Among Chinese University Students in the Post-Pandemic Era. International Journal of Education, 3(2): 19. https://doi.org/10.12208/j.ije.20210015

Ning X, Luo X, Guo S, 2024, Researching into Chinese University Students’ Mental Health in the Post-pandemic Era — Problems and Causes. Frontiers in Psychology, 2024(15): 1393603. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1393603

Cui Q, 2021, The Relationship Between General Self-Efficacy and Depression Among University Students. Journal of Jining Medical University, 44(2): 102. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-9760.2021.02.007

Mao Y, Xie M, Li M, et al., 2023, Promoting Academic Self-efficacy, Positive Relationships, and Psychological Resilience for Chinese University Students’ Life Satisfaction. Educational Psychology, 43(1): 78–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2022.2138830

Li W, Quan S, 2025, Mediating Effects of Resilience on Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy and Adverse Mental Health Outcomes among College Students in China. Scientific Reports, 15(1): 25168. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09260-z