{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,13]],"date-time":"2026-01-13T15:29:53Z","timestamp":1768318193342,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":69,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,21]],"date-time":"2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747785600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Social Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study aimed to investigate the effect of perceived social support on perceived employability and whether this relationship is mediated by well-being. Another objective is to study the moderating effect of perceived self-efficacy on the relationship between well-being and perceived employability. The sample comprises 316 participants, all studying at universities in Portugal. The results show that social support is positively and significantly associated with perceived employability and well-being. Well-being has a positive and significant association with perceived employability. As for the mediating effect, well-being was found to have a total mediating effect on the relationship between social support and perceived employability. Perceived self-efficacy has a positive and significant association with perceived employability. Contrary to expectations, perceived self-efficacy does not moderate the relationship between well-being and perceived employability. These results allow us to conclude that social support and well-being are the survival kits for the jungle of work. As for the practical implications, it is recommended that universities take care of the social support given to students, increasing their well-being so that their perceived employability is high.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/socsci14050317","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,21]],"date-time":"2025-05-21T09:58:22Z","timestamp":1747821502000},"page":"317","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Social Support and Well-Being: The Survival Kit for the Work Jungle"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Mariana","family":"Oliveira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias e Tecnologia, Universidade Europeia, Quinta do Bom Nome, Estr. da Correia 53, 1500-210 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4799-874X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana","family":"Palma-Moreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Ci\u00eancias e Tecnologia, Universidade Europeia, Quinta do Bom Nome, Estr. da Correia 53, 1500-210 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2154-6171","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel","family":"Au-Yong-Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC), 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP), Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"727","article-title":"Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: The truth about cats and dogs","volume":"64","author":"Allen","year":"2002","journal-title":"Psychosomatic Medicine"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s43076-023-00261-3","article-title":"Psychometric Properties of the Portuguese Version of The PERMA-Profiler","volume":"33","author":"Alves","year":"2023","journal-title":"Trends in Psychology"},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Amabile, Teresa M. (1998). How to Kill Creativity, SAGE Publications Ltd.. Harvard Business Review. September\u2013October."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.5539\/ies.v7n13p261","article-title":"Perceived social support and well being: First-year student experience in university","volume":"7","author":"Awang","year":"2014","journal-title":"International Education Studies"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126","DOI":"10.22555\/joeed.v5i2.1742","article-title":"Access to Higher Education: The Source of Graduate Employability and Wellbeing","volume":"5","author":"Bakari","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of Education and Educational Developement"},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Bandura, Albert (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory, Prentice-Hall, Inc."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"99","article-title":"Choque de Carreira sob a Perspectiva da Teoria de Conserva\u00e7\u00e3o de Recursos: Um Estudo com Profissionais Demitidos de Organiza\u00e7\u00f5es Privadas","volume":"5","author":"Neri","year":"2021","journal-title":"Revista Horizontes Interdisciplinares da Gest\u00e3o"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1173","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.51.6.1173","article-title":"The moderator\u2013mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations","volume":"51","author":"Baron","year":"1986","journal-title":"Journal of Personality and Social Psychology"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Berntson, Erik (2008). Employability Perceptions Nature, Determinants, and Implications for Health and Well-Being. [Doctoral dissertation, Psykologiska institutionen].","DOI":"10.1037\/e529722013-001"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1540-4560.1984.tb01104.x","article-title":"Social support: An introduction to a complex phenomenon","volume":"40","author":"Brownell","year":"1984","journal-title":"Journal of Social Issues"},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Bryman, Alan, and Cramer, Duncan (2003). An\u00e1lise de Dados em Ci\u00eancias Sociais. Introdu\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e0s T\u00e9cnicas Utilizando o SPSS Para Windows, Celta."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5502\/ijw.v6i3.526","article-title":"The PERMA-Profiler: A brief multidimensional measure of flourishing","volume":"6","author":"Butler","year":"2016","journal-title":"International Journal of Wellbeing"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.14195\/1647-8606_54_13","article-title":"Caracter\u00edsticas psicom\u00e9tricas da vers\u00e3o portuguesa da escala multidimensional de suporte social percebido (multidimensional scale of perceived social support-mspss)","volume":"54","author":"Carvalho","year":"2011","journal-title":"Psychologica"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.5502\/ijw.v2i3.4","article-title":"The challenge of defining wellbeing","volume":"2","author":"Dodge","year":"2012","journal-title":"International Journal of Wellbeing"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"865","DOI":"10.1046\/j.0022-4537.2003.00095.x","article-title":"Extracurricular activities and adolescent development","volume":"59","author":"Eccles","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Social Issues"},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Ereaut, Gill, and Whiting, Rebecca (2008). What Do We Mean by \u2018Wellbeing\u2019? And Why Might It Matter, Department for Children, Schools and Families."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Erikson, Erik H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis, W. W. Norton & Company."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"100","article-title":"Adapta\u00e7\u00e3o acad\u00e9mica em estudantes universit\u00e1rios do 1o ciclo de estudos: O papel da auto-efic\u00e1cia","volume":"16","author":"Fernandes","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psicologia, Educa\u00e7\u00e3o e Cultura"},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Hancock, Gregory R., and Mueller, Ralph O. (2013). Non-Normal and Categorical Data in Structural Equation Modeling. Structural Equation Modeling: A Second Course, Information Age Publishing. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1177\/002224378101800104","article-title":"Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error","volume":"18","author":"Fornell","year":"1981","journal-title":"Journal of Marketing Research"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvb.2003.10.005","article-title":"Employability: A psycho-social construct, its dimensions, and applications","volume":"65","author":"Fugate","year":"2004","journal-title":"Journal of Vocational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"97","article-title":"Validation of Self-Perceived Employability Scale among Portuguese university students and its relevance to job-seeking behaviors","volume":"9","author":"Gamboa","year":"2022","journal-title":"Revista de Estudios e Investigacion En Psicologia y Educacion"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"133","article-title":"Adaptabilidade de Carreira e Autoefic\u00e1cia na Transi\u00e7\u00e3o para o Trabalho: O papel da Empregabilidade Percebida\u2013Estudo com Estudantes do Ensino Superior","volume":"48","author":"Gamboa","year":"2014","journal-title":"Revista Portuguesa de Pedagogia"},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Gomes, A. Rui (2007). Escala de Auto-Efic\u00e1cia Geral (EA-EG) General Perceived Self-Efficacy (GPS-E), Escola de Psicologia, Universidade do Minho. Available online: https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/1822\/85440."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"85","article-title":"Job search intentions in higher education: Employability and self-efficacy","volume":"20","author":"Gomes","year":"2019","journal-title":"Revista Brasileira de Orientacao Profissional"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2966","DOI":"10.3390\/ejihpe14120195","article-title":"Creative Self-Efficacy and Social Skills in a Portuguese Sample of University Students: Links with Self-Esteem Molero Jurado, Academic Achievement and Life Satisfaction","volume":"14","author":"Santos","year":"2024","journal-title":"European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gra\u00e7a, Beatriz, and Au-Yong-Oliveira, Manuel (2024). Competitiveness Strategies for Negative Organisations\u2013Challenging the Status Quo, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-59914-9"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.2753\/MTP1069-6679190202","article-title":"PLS-SEM: Indeed a Silver Bullet","volume":"19","author":"Hair","year":"2011","journal-title":"Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice"},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Hair, Joseph Franklin, Hult, G. Tomas M., and Ringle, Christian M. Sarstedt (2017). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage Publications Inc. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.21608\/ajccr.2024.236890.1083","article-title":"The Impact of Undergraduate Internships on Employability-An Empirical Study","volume":"4","author":"Hassouna","year":"2024","journal-title":"The Academic Journal of Contemporary Commercial Research"},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Hayes, Andrew F. (2022). Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-Based Approach, The Guilford Press."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Hill, Manuela, and Hill, Andrew (2002). Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o por Question\u00e1rio, Edi\u00e7\u00f5es S\u00edlabo."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"513","DOI":"10.1037\/0003-066X.44.3.513","article-title":"Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress","volume":"44","author":"Hobfoll","year":"1989","journal-title":"American Psychologist"},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Hofstede, Geert (2001). Culture\u2019s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations, Sage Publications."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/10705519909540118","article-title":"Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives","volume":"6","author":"Hu","year":"1999","journal-title":"Structural Equation Modeling"},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"INE (Instituto Nacional de Estat\u00edstica, Statistics Portugal) (2025, May 08). Estimativas Mensais de Emprego e Desemprego. Available online: https:\/\/www.ine.pt\/xportal\/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=701630254&DESTAQUESmodo=2."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"J\u00f6reskog, Karl G., and S\u00f6rbom, Dag (1993). LISREL 8: Structural Equation Modeling with the SIMPLIS Command Language. Scientific Software International; Lawrence, Erlbaum Associates, Inc."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.2307\/3090197","article-title":"The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life","volume":"43","author":"Keyes","year":"2002","journal-title":"Journal of Health and Social Behavior"},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Lazarus, Richard, and Folkman, Susan (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping, Springer."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"557","DOI":"10.1037\/a0033446","article-title":"Social cognitive model of career self-management: Toward a unifying view of adaptive career behavior across the life span","volume":"60","author":"Lent","year":"2013","journal-title":"Journal of Counseling Psychology"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1006\/jvbe.1994.1027","article-title":"Toward a Unifying Social Cognitive Theory of Career and Academic Interest, Choice, and Performance","volume":"45","author":"Lent","year":"1994","journal-title":"Journal of Vocational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Macedo, Matilde, Au-Yong-Oliveira, Manuel, Walter, C\u00edcero Eduardo, and Moreira, Ana (2022). Internships with Portuguese Speakers: Leadership Moreira, Organisational Culture and the Current Brain Drain. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su141710776"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1097-4679(199905)55:5<539::AID-JCLP2>3.0.CO;2-G","article-title":"The hope construct, will, and ways: Their relations with self-efficacy, optimism, and general well-being","volume":"55","author":"Magaletta","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of Clinical Psychology"},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"1083","article-title":"Effect of perceived social support on life satisfaction of university students","volume":"1","author":"Mahanta","year":"2013","journal-title":"European Academic Research"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1037\/1082-989X.1.2.130","article-title":"Power analysis and determination of sample size for covariance structural modelling","volume":"1","author":"McCallum","year":"1996","journal-title":"Psychological Methods"},{"key":"ref_46","first-page":"61","article-title":"Adapta\u00e7\u00e3o portuguesa da escala de medida de manifesta\u00e7\u00e3o de bem-estar psicol\u00f3gico com estudantes universit\u00e1rios","volume":"13","author":"Monteiro","year":"2012","journal-title":"EMMBEP"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"879","DOI":"10.1037\/0021-9010.88.5.879","article-title":"Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies","volume":"88","author":"Podsakoff","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Applied Psychology"},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"PORDATA (Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Francisco Manuel dos Santos\u2013Base de dados Portugal Contempor\u00e2neo) (2025, May 08). Sal\u00e1rios e Pens\u00f5es. Dados sobre o Sal\u00e1rio M\u00ednimo Nacional, o Sal\u00e1rio M\u00e9dio, Disparidade Salarial, Valor M\u00ednimo e Despesas das Pens\u00f5es e Muito Mais. Available online: https:\/\/www.pordata.pt\/pt\/estatisticas\/salarios-e-pensoes."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1007\/s11205-012-0158-x","article-title":"Social Capital and Subjective Wellbeing in Europe: A New Approach on Social Capital","volume":"114","author":"Portela","year":"2013","journal-title":"Social Indicators Research"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.1177\/1469787414544875","article-title":"An empirical study of self-perceived employability: Improving the prospects for student employment success in an uncertain environment","volume":"15","author":"Qenani","year":"2014","journal-title":"Active Learning in Higher Education"},{"key":"ref_51","first-page":"547","article-title":"Escala de satisfa\u00e7\u00e3o com o suporte social (ESSS)","volume":"17","author":"Ribeiro","year":"1999","journal-title":"An\u00e1lise Psicol\u00f3gica"},{"key":"ref_52","unstructured":"Hartung, Paul J., Savickas, Mark L., and Walsh, W. Bruce (2015). Employability. Handbook of Career Intervention, American Psychological Association."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvb.2009.05.002","article-title":"Self-perceived employability: Investigating the responses of post-graduate students","volume":"75","author":"Rothwell","year":"2009","journal-title":"Journal of Vocational Behavior"},{"key":"ref_54","unstructured":"Ryan, Michele (2023). Ryan, Michele. 2023. Emotional Intelligence, Self-Efficacy, and the Perceived Employability of Traditional Undergraduate Business Students in a Private Midwest Educational Institution. [Master\u2019s thesis, George Fox University]."},{"key":"ref_55","unstructured":"Samssudin, Sara (2009). Rela\u00e7\u00e3o Entre as Cren\u00e7as de Auto-Efic\u00e1cia e o Apoio Social na Transi\u00e7\u00e3o Para o Trabalho em Estudantes Finalistas do Ensino Superior. [Master\u2019s thesis, Universidade de Lisboa]."},{"key":"ref_56","unstructured":"Schwarzer, Ralf, and Jerusalem, Matthias (1993). Measurement of Perceived Self-Efficacy: Psychometric Scales for Cross-Cultural Research, Freie University."},{"key":"ref_57","unstructured":"Weinman, John, Wright, Stephan, and Johnston, Marie (1995). Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale. Measures in Health Psychology: A User\u2019s Portfolio, NFER-NELSON. Causal and Control Beliefs."},{"key":"ref_58","unstructured":"Selwyn, Julie, and Wood, M. (2015). Measuring Well-Being: A Literature Review, University of Bristol. Available online: https:\/\/research-information.bris.ac.uk\/ws\/portalfiles\/portal\/41278115\/Measuring_Wellbeing_FINAL.pdf."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.1093\/biomet\/62.1.181","article-title":"Group testing with a new goal, estimation","volume":"62","author":"Sobel","year":"1975","journal-title":"Biometrika"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Friedman, Howard S. (2011). Social support: A review. The Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology, Oxford University Press.","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordhb\/9780195342819.001.0001"},{"key":"ref_61","first-page":"237","article-title":"Motivation to learn and social support determine employability among vocational high school students","volume":"8","author":"Tentama","year":"2019","journal-title":"International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education"},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"664638","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.664638","article-title":"Social capital theory, social exchange theory, social cognitive theory, financial literacy, and the role of knowledge sharing as a moderator in enhancing financial well-being: From bibliometric analysis to a conceptual framework model","volume":"12","author":"Thomas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Frontiers in Psychology"},{"key":"ref_63","unstructured":"Trochim, William (2000). The Research Method Knowledge Base, Atomic Dog Publishing. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Van Dierendonck, Dirk, and Patterson, Kathleen (2010). Servant Leadership-Developments in Theory and Research, Palgrave Macmillan.","DOI":"10.1057\/9780230299184"},{"key":"ref_65","first-page":"8","article-title":"Perceived employability and well-being: An overview","volume":"14","author":"Vanhercke","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psihologia Resurselor Umane"},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2101","DOI":"10.3390\/ejihpe14070140","article-title":"Well-Being and Dispositional Hope in a Sample of Portuguese Citizens: The Mediating Role of Mental Health","volume":"14","author":"Velez","year":"2024","journal-title":"European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education"},{"key":"ref_67","unstructured":"Clark, Margaret S. (1991). Social support and interpersonal relationships. Prosocial Behavior, Sage Publications, Inc."},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.2307\/258173","article-title":"Social cognitive theory of organizational mangement special issue: Theory development forum","volume":"14","author":"Wood","year":"1989","journal-title":"Academy of Management Review"},{"key":"ref_69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2020.00028","article-title":"The Relationship Between Career Social Support and Employability of College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model","volume":"11","author":"Xia","year":"2020","journal-title":"Frontiers in Psychology"}],"container-title":["Social Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0760\/14\/5\/317\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:36:37Z","timestamp":1760031397000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0760\/14\/5\/317"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,21]]},"references-count":69,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]}},"alternative-id":["socsci14050317"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/socsci14050317","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-0760"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-0760","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,21]]}}}