Exploring the Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Cognitions, Emotions, and Behavioral Patterns of Paramedical Staff

Abstract

The present study examined the impact of socioeconomic status on psychological distress, perceived stress, and coping behavior among paramedical staff working in Basic Health Units and private hospitals of Sialkot. A cross sectional quantitative research design was used. The sample comprised 150 paramedical staff selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a demographic information sheet, the Socioeconomic Status Scale, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale K10 developed by Kessler et al., the Perceived Stress Scale developed by Cohen et al., and the Brief COPE developed by Carver. The internal consistency of the measures in the present study was satisfactory, with Cronbach alpha coefficients ranging from .72 to .88. Pearson product moment correlation analysis revealed a non-significant negative relationship between socioeconomic status and psychological distress (r = -.05, p > .05) and a non-significant positive relationship between socioeconomic status and perceived stress (r = .12, p > .05). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between psychological distress and perceived stress (r = .32, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis indicated that perceived stress significantly predicted coping behavior (B = 0.78, β = .34, p < .01), whereas socioeconomic status did not significantly predict coping behavior (B = -0.06, β = -.05, p > .05). The overall model explained a meaningful proportion of variance in coping behavior. The findings suggest that perceived stress plays a more substantial role than socioeconomic status in influencing the psychological well-being and behavioral responses of paramedical staff. The study underscores the importance of workplace stress management and coping enhancement interventions within healthcare settings.