Journal of Sociology and Psychology - Psychology

Occupational stress and psychological capital in firefighters

Lê Thị Minh Loan — 2026-01-14

The study aimed to explore the relationship between psychological capital and occupational stress among firefighters in Vietnam. Data were collected from 535 firefighters using two instruments: The Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), which includes four components: self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience, and the Stress in Fire Service Scale (SFSS). Correlational analysis showed that psychological capital was negatively associated with occupational stress, indicating that firefighters with higher levels of psychological capital tended to report lower levels of work-related stress. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that only two components of psychological capital - self-efficacy and optimism - significantly contributed to the reduction of overall occupational stress, as well as several specific sources of stress (including pressure and job control, working conditions and lifestyle, coworker relationships, and feelings of isolation). In contrast, resilience emerged as a positive predictor of stress related to pressure and job control. These findings suggest that enhancing psychological capital, particularly self-efficacy and optimism, along with improving working conditions, may help reduce occupational stress among firefighters.

The impact of social connections on stress among university students

Hoàng Trung Học — 2026-01-14

This study explores the relationship between social connectedness and perceived stress among university students - a population particularly vulnerable to academic, financial, and familial pressures. Grounded in the social connectedness theory proposed by Cassel and Cobb (1976), data were collected from 169 undergraduate students using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS). Results indicated a significant negative correlation between social connectedness and stress levels. Regression analysis further revealed that each one-unit increase in social connectedness predicted a 0.34-unit decrease in perceived stress. Both the quantity and quality of social relationships were identified as critical factors in mitigating stress. These findings underscore the protective role of social connectedness in supporting students' mental health. The study suggests that universities should foster greater social engagement through group activities, psychological support services, and the creation of inclusive learning environments. Implications are also discussed for the development of mental health interventions and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing students’ adaptability and quality of life in the context of educational reform in Vietnam.

The influence of identity on the future orientation among high school students

Bùi Minh Đức — 2026-01-14

Adolescence plays an important role in personal development, especially with two key tasks: forming a personal identity and developing a future orientation. Recognizing the need to identify factors affecting future orientation, this study was conducted to examine the impact of personal identity on future orientation in high school students. The sample consisted of 260 high school students (grades 11 and 12), comprising 34.2% males, 63.1% females, and 2.7% identifying as ‘other’. Data were collected using the Identity Scale of Rosenthal et al. (1981) and the Future Orientation Questionnaire of Seginer (2009), including three aspects: career orientation, academic orientation, and marriage and family orientation. The analysis results showed that personal identity had a positive, statistically significant correlation with career orientation and academic orientation. At the same time, there was also a statistically significant and positive correlation between career orientation and academic orientation. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between personal identity and marriage and family orientation. Regression analysis confirmed that personal identity has a positive effect, promoting future orientation in career and education aspects.

Emotional intelligence of students and its relationship with resilience - A study on students of University of Education, Hue University

Phạm Quốc — 2026-01-14

This paper presents the results of a study on the current status of emotional intelligence, resilience of students and the relationship between the two among students at the University of Education, Hue University. Data were collected from 393 students. The results of the study showed that emotional intelligence, resilience of students were at an average level. Additionally, emotional intelligence of students was found to be positively correlated with resilience. The results of this current research play a role in providing a theoretical and practical basis for proposing reasonable measures to improve emotional intelligence and resilience among students at the University of Education, Hue University.

Levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among cancer patients in Ho Chi Minh City: Sociodemographic characteristics and cancer-related factors

Lê Thị Dung — 2026-01-14

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Vietnam. The prevalence of mental health issues among cancer patients in Vietnam is significantly higher than in many other countries. However, mental health care for this population has not received adequate attention due to the lack of evidence linking psychological well-being and cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the factors affecting depression, anxiety, and stress among cancer patients in Ho Chi Minh City. The study was conducted on 230 voluntary patients through listening, reading, and responding to a questionnaire. The research results indicated that factors such as age, gender, disease stage, and current treatment methods do not significantly affect the rates of mental disorders. However, better financial stability, higher education levels, good health history, and awareness of avoiding pain relief medication during treatment were factors that could reduce the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among cancer patients. The findings from this study provide meaningful scientific suggestions for preventing and caring for the mental health of cancer patients in Vietnam.

The relationship between childhood experiences and depression, anxiety, and stress among young adults in Vietnam

Thái Văn Quang — 2026-01-14

Recent studies in Vietnam have emphasized the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mental health during adolescence and early adulthood. In addition, numerous international studies have also demonstrated the protective role of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) in buffering against the effects of ACEs. The present study was conducted on 274 individuals aged 18 to 30 in Vietnam to examine the associations between ACEs, PCEs, and the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress in early adulthood. Findings revealed that 88.7% of participants had experienced at least one ACE, while 67.5% reported having at least eight PCEs. Regarding mental health, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms was notably high (60.2%, 77.0%, and 66.1%, respectively). Regression analysis revealed that ACEs and PCEs independently predicted mental health outcomes in early adulthood rather than interacting with each other. Specifically, ACEs increased the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas PCEs played a mitigating role in reducing these risks. Based on these findings, the study suggests that fostering PCEs in early developmental environments, alongside efforts to prevent ACEs, should be prioritized.

Parents’ perceptions of school violence involving adolescents: Evidence from Bac Giang Province, Vietnam

Nguyễn Diệp Hà — 2026-01-14

School violence has become a serious social issue, leading to numerous consequences for students’ mental health and overall development. In addition to students and teachers, parents are also directly affected by school violence; however, there remains a lack of in-depth research in Vietnam focusing on this aspect. This study aimed to examine the current perceptions of parents with adolescent children regarding school violence, using a sample of 208 parents whose children were studying at lower and upper secondary schools in Bac Giang province. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire based on a four-point Likert scale, covering key aspects such as perceptions of the current situation, forms, causes, and consequences of school violence. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The findings reveal that parents are more capable of identifying physical violence but show limited awareness of psychological, social, and cyber forms of violence. They tend to attribute school violence mainly to family and individual factors; although they recognize its serious psychological consequences, some still hold attitudes that underestimate its severity.

The impact of academic needs and job performance on lecturers’ work engagement in autonomous universities

Phạm Xuân Hưởng — 2026-01-14

This study investigates the predictive power of academic needs and job performance on lecturers’ work engagement in autonomous universities. Data were collected from 381 faculty members at three fully autonomous universities in Ho Chi Minh City. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships among the research variables. The findings revealed that academic needs strongly predicted research engagement and unexpected job performance has a significant impact on teaching engagement. In contrast, assigned job performance does not significantly affect either teaching or research engagement. These findings provide a foundation for proposing faculty support policies, such as fostering opportunities for professional development, enhancing the academic environment, reducing administrative burdens, and improving compensation schemes to promote faculty work engagement.

Strengths of women who are victims of domestic violence at Peace House Shelter, Center for Women and Development, Vietnam Women's Union

Nguyễn Phương Tường Vi — 2026-01-14

Domestic violence against women is a serious social problem, not only causing severe consequences for the physical and mental health of the victims but also hindering the sustainable development of society. In that context, strengths-based social work has been considered a new and positive perspective, shifting from the problem to the utilization of the internal strengths of people experiencing domestic violence as a premise for their recovery and reintegration. This study was conducted with 100 women who were victims of violence by their husbands or cohabitants and were temporarily residing at, or had returned to their families after being supported at the Peace House Shelter under the Centre for Women and Development, Vietnam Women's Union. The research results showed that, despite their sufferings, women who experienced domestic violence still maintained significant internal strengths such as faith and hope, adaptability and coping ability, energy, self-esteem and other positive characteristics. Social workers need to use their expertise to identify and stimulate the internal strengths of clients to improve the effectiveness of the recovery process, promote empowermenta and reintegration and reduce the risk of violence recurrence in victims.

Motives for using dating applications among emerging adults

Trần Thị Tùng Lâm — 2026-01-14

This study investigated the motives for using dating applications among emerging adults in Vietnam, identified four primary motives: "Social Inclusion/Socializing," "Seeking Relationships," "Entertainment," and "Enhancing Sexual Experience." The findings revealed that the "Social Inclusion/Socializing" motive received the highest level of agreement, reflecting the need for social connection during the early stage of adulthood. The "Seeking Relationships" motive ranked second, indicating an interest in romantic relationships, while the "Entertainment" motive received a relatively low level of agreement, suggesting that the apps are less commonly used for entertainment purposes. Notably, the "Enhancing Sexual Experience" motive had the lowest score, reflecting the cultural sensitivity surrounding sexuality in Asian societies. The study also found significant gender differences in this motive, with males reporting higher levels of agreement than females, as well as in the "Seeking Relationships" motive. These differences may be explained by evolutionary theory and social structural theory. The study contributes to the understanding of dating application usage behavior in the Vietnamese cultural context and provides insights for marketing strategies. However, the research is limited regarding sample size and sampling method.