Original Research - Special Collection: HR Practices Aligned with SDGs

Unlocking mental well-being: The role of workplace social support and organisational justice in the public service

Tatenda S. Marange, Maonei G. Mangwanya, Tafadzwa C. Maramura, Willie T. Chinyamurindi
SA Journal of Human Resource Management | Vol 22 | a2717 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v22i0.2717 | © 2024 Tatenda S. Marange, Maonei G. Mangwanya, Tafadzwa C. Maramura, Willie T. Chinyamurindi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 16 June 2024 | Published: 23 October 2024

About the author(s)

Tatenda S. Marange, Department of Industrial Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Maonei G. Mangwanya, Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Tafadzwa C. Maramura, Department of Public Administration and Management, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Willie T. Chinyamurindi, Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management and Commerce, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa

Abstract

Research purpose: This study sought to determine the relationship between public service employee’s mental health accounting for the role of organisational justice and workplace social support.

Motivation for the study: Calls exist to understand issues of mental health within the confines of the organisation.

Research approach/design and method: A survey approach utilising a convenience sample of 289 public service employees as respondents was utilised. The location of the study was the Eastern Cape province, South Africa.

Main findings: The findings show that workplace social support has a direct and positive relationship with employee mental health. Organisational justice has no significant relationship with employee mental health. Workplace social support was found to fully mediate the relationship between organisational justice and employee mental health.

Practical/managerial implications: Strategies can be put in place that inform the promotion of mental health with the public service. These include the need for support services to promote mental health to address organisational issues that impede the pathway of such interventions.

Contribution/value-add: The findings proffer useful precursors to interventions that address the challenge of mental health.


Keywords

mental health; workplace social support; organisational justice; employees; public service; South Africa

JEL Codes

J81: Working Conditions

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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