The Mediating Effect of Ego-Resilience in the Relationship between Occupational Calling and Job Stress among Caregivers

This study aimed to explore the mediating effect of ego-resilience on the relationship between occupational calling and job stress among caregivers. Job stress in caregivers often leads to issues such as low morale, high turnover rates, and a decline in the quality of care services. To overcome these challenges, the study examined how occupational calling and ego-resilience are related as a potential means to reduce job stress. A questionnaire survey was conducted among caregivers at long-term care facilities for the elderly in Busan, with 267 completed responses used for the final analysis. The results are summarized as follows: First, the survey revealed that most participants were female, in their 50s, had a high school education, and earned a monthly salary between KRW 1 million and KRW 2 million. The types of long-term care facilities where the caregivers worked were generally similar. Additionally, most caregivers had more than four years of experience, worked 8-hour shifts, and were employed full-time. On average, each caregiver was responsible for six or more elderly residents. Second, the survey found that as caregivers' sense of occupational calling increased, their job stress decreased. Third, ego-resilience was found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between occupational calling and job stress. Based on these findings, the study suggests strategies to enhance both occupational calling and ego-resilience as a means to reduce job stress among caregivers in the future.