The relationship between employment pressure and occupational delay of gratification among college students: positive psychological capital as a mediator

This study explored the direct effect of employment pressure among college students on occupational delay of gratification and the intermediary role of positive psychological capital. A stratified cluster-sampling method was used to select 553 university students, who completed the Employment Pressure Scale, Positive Mental Capital Scale, and Occupational Delay of Gratification Scale. Regression analysis and bootstrap methods were used to examine the intermediary role of positive psychological capital between employment pressure and occupational delay of gratification. There were positive correlations between employment pressure and occupational delay of gratification, between employment pressure and positive psychological capital, and between occupational delay of gratification and positive psychological capital (r = .51-.75, p < .01). Employment pressure was a negative predictor of occupational delay of gratification (beta = -.391, p < .01), and positive psychological capital was a mediator between employment pressure and occupational delay of gratification; the mediating effect explained 24.18% of the total effect. Thus, positive psychological capital plays an intermediary role between employment pressure and occupational delay of gratification among college students.