ASSOCIATION BETWEEN JOB SATISFACTION AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG KARACHI TRAFFIC POLICE OFFICERS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to examine the association between job satisfaction and mental health and also to analyze the moderating role of social support in this relationship. This study adopted a quantitative research design to explore the relationship between job satisfaction and mental health, as well as the potential moderating role of social support. A purposive convenience sampling technique was utilized, comprising a sample of 350 male traffic police officers aged from 19 to 59 years. Data were gathered through three standardized, self-administered questionnaires: the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS-36; Spector, 1985), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-12; Zimet et al., 1988). For data analysis and hypothesis testing, SPSS version 21 was employed. The statistical techniques included Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, moderation analysis, and descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage distributions. The findings revealed a statistically significant, though weak, negative correlation between job satisfaction and mental health indicators (r = -0.157, p < 0.01), suggesting that higher levels of job satisfaction are modestly associated with better mental health outcomes. However, the results also indicated that social support does not significantly moderate the relationship between job satisfaction and mental. health These findings will help policy makers of Traffic police department in formulating recommendations that will help implementing and organizing peer support training programs, organize stress management workshops and programs, developing effective coping strategies, which will not only improve the mental health of officers but also increase job satisfaction, reduce stress issues, and improve performance, which will ultimately improve the quality of public services.

Keywords: Job Satisfaction, Social Support, Mental Health, Karachi, Traffic Police