Unpacking the Mediating Role of Hope in the Relationship of Coping Flexibility and Stress of Filipino Healthcare Workers

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mediation model between stress, hope, and coping flexibility among Filipino healthcare workers. The hypothesis suggested that hope would serve as a significant mediator between stress and coping flexibility. Data were collected from 92 healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics who voluntarily participated in an online survey after providing individual consent. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Coping Flexibility Scale, and the Trait Hope Scale were utilized to measure the variables. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine the demographic characteristics of the sample. Pearson correlation analyses were employed to assess the relationships between hope, perceived stress, and coping flexibility. Subsequently, a mediation analysis was performed to test the proposed model. The results revealed that stress was associated with coping flexibility, while hope showed a positive relationship with coping flexibility. However, the specific path from stress to hope was found to be non-significant, thus violating one of the assumptions of a mediation model. This highlights the complexity of the relationship between stress and hope, suggesting the potential involvement of other factors that were not considered in this study. Despite the failure to establish the assumed causal relationship, this study contributes to a nuanced understanding of the dynamics of stress, hope, and coping flexibility among healthcare workers. It underscores the need for future research to explore alternative models and delve into additional factors that may influence this relationship in greater detail. It also has implications for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing the well-being of frontline healthcare workers.