IMPACT OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON WELL-BEING AMONG EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE STAFF

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between perceived social support and well-being among emergency healthcare staff facing acute occupational pressure. A quantitative correlational research design was employed to explore how individuals' interpersonal support networks are associated with their mental stability during high-stakes medical emergencies. The sample consisted of 300 emergency healthcare professionals (63.6% female, 36.4% male) recruited through convenience sampling from various hospital settings in Karachi, Pakistan. Data were collected through a survey utilizing the 12-item Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the 5-item WHO-5 Well-Being Index, both of which are established psychometric instruments for assessing systemic support structures and subjective emotional health. The collected data were analyzed using the Pearson product–moment correlation. The statistical findings revealed a robust and highly significant positive relationship between perceived social support and well-being (r = .688, N = 300, p < .001), indicating that individuals with lower levels of social support from family, friends, and colleagues tend to experience compromised well-being and heightened burnout in clinical environments. These results highlight the critical psychological impact of supportive professional and personal ecosystems on frontline workers' operational endurance. The study underscores the importance of healthcare administrators and hospital institutions introducing structured support networks and tailored counseling interventions to mitigate severe workplace trauma, protect the psychological equilibrium of frontline responders, and foster sustainable, high-quality patient care.