How Does Student Work Affect Students – Mental Health and Job Characteristics in Student Work

In our research, we were interested in how the characteristics of the workplace, sociodemographic variables, and the mental health of the student population are interconnected. Our sample consisted of 193 individuals (144 women, 45 men, and four individuals who did not identify their gender), all students from vari­ous academic levels and fields of study. We found that most of the student popula­tion has a job, with most not working for skills development but rather to cover either the basic costs of living or additional goods or activities that enhance their quality of life. The primary reasons for extensive work are high living costs and a lack of social measures. However, for students in financial hardship, increased work does not contribute to well-being, but instead correlates negatively with their mental health. This is influenced by the characteristics of the job. Autonomy had the most positive association with mental health, rated lower than desired by students, whereas psychological demands were negatively associated and were rated considerably high. The best predictor of mental health is social support in the workplace. Based on the results, we propose state-level measures to prevent stu­dents being forced to work to cover basic necessities, enhance the rights of student workers, and reduce the likelihood of the violation of these rights. Additionally, we suggest university-level measures to facilitate the work-study balance and recommendations for individual support for students facing the most severe fi­nancial challenges.