Job search anxiety and flourishing among university students: the serial mediating effects of social support and strengths use.

Publication date: Jul 01, 2025

Job search anxiety among university students has intensified due to increased uncertainty in youth employment within global labor markets. This study aimed to examine the serial mediating roles of social support and strengths use in the relationship between job search anxiety and flourishing. This study was conducted online during the pandemic and included 228 Korean university students aged 21-29 years. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ANOVA (analysis of variance), Welch’s ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and serial multiple mediation analyses with the bootstrapping method. After controlling for covariates, job search anxiety was directly related to flourishing (B =  - 0. 477, 95% confidence interval (CI) [- 0. 649, - 0. 304]). Furthermore, the indirect effects of job search anxiety on flourishing via social support and strengths use were statistically significant (B =  - 0. 192, 95% CI [- 0. 316, - 0. 083]; B =  - 0. 134, 95% CI [- 0. 234, - 0. 055]). Additionally, a serial mediation effect of social support and strengths use on the path from job search anxiety to flourishing was statistically significant (B =  - 0. 046, 95% CI [- 0. 084, - 0. 018]). This result indicated that the serial mediation by first social support and then strengths use demonstrated a stronger effect than mediation by either variable alone. This study provides novel insights for mental health professionals, policymakers, and educators concerning the serial mediating mechanism linking job search anxiety and flourishing. These findings underscore the importance of assessing job search anxiety among university students and providing psychological interventions that promote flourishing, particularly through enhancing social support and encouraging strengths use.

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