The Impact of Chinese University Students' Occupational Stigma Perception on Depression: The Serial Mediating Role of Self‐Esteem and Anxiety

ABSTRACT The number of new graduates in China has exceeded 10 million for three consecutive years, creating significant employment competition for university students, while the phenomena of “lazy employment” and “slow employment” are serious among Chinese university students. This study focused on the current state of occupational stigma perception among Chinese university students and explores the serial mediating role in the relationship between occupational stigma perception and depression among Chinese university students. The study uses the Occupational Stigma Perception Scale, the Self‐Esteem Scale, the Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Self‐Rating Depression Scale (SDS) to conduct a convenience sampling survey of 1328 Chinese university students. The results showed that occupational stigma perception could affect depression through three pathways: (a) through the mediating role of self‐esteem, (b) through the mediating role of anxiety, and (c) through the serial mediating role of self‐esteem and anxiety. This information contributes to a deeper understanding of how occupational stigma perception impacts depression and provides guidance for college students' mental health education, shaping of employment outlook, and professional development.