Subjective Socioeconomic Status and Post-Traumatic Growth Among Doctors and Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Social Support and Positive Psychological Capital

This study investigated the association between subjective socioeconomic status and post-traumatic growth among doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the mediating roles of perceived social support and positive psychological capital. Two independent studies were conducted. Study 1 surveyed 369 doctors who completed validated measures of subjective socioeconomic status, perceived social support, positive psychological capital, and post-traumatic growth. Study 2 replicated the design with 692 nurses to confirm the robustness of the findings. Across both samples, perceived social support and positive psychological capital independently mediated the link between subjective socioeconomic status and post-traumatic growth. Moreover, a sequential mediation pathway was identified, whereby higher subjective socioeconomic status predicted greater post-traumatic growth through increased perceived social support and, in turn, enhanced positive psychological capital. These findings highlight the importance of social and psychological resources in translating healthcare workers’ socioeconomic background into resilience and growth during the COVID-19 crisis.