Self-Criticism in In-Work Poverty: The Mediating Role of Social Support in the Era of Flexibility

José Antonio Llosa, Esteban Agulló-Tomás, Sara Menéndez-Espina, María Luz Rivero-Díaz and Enrique Iglesias-Martínez
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José Antonio Llosa: Department of Social Education, Padre Ossó Faculty, University of Oviedo, 33008 Oviedo, Spain
Esteban Agulló-Tomás: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
Sara Menéndez-Espina: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University Isabel I, 09003 Burgos, Spain
María Luz Rivero-Díaz: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
Enrique Iglesias-Martínez: Department of Social Education, Padre Ossó Faculty, University of Oviedo, 33008 Oviedo, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: In-work poverty reflects situations of income below the poverty threshold among employed people, involving a deterioration of wellbeing. The International Labour Organization prioritises this situation, which in countries such as Spain, Germany or Italy reaches rates of 11.8%, 10.6% and 11.8%, respectively. Within a context of flexibility, the occupational situation tends to be understood as an individual responsibility, which is why this study analyses the increase in self-criticism in these situations, and the role of social support in this relationship. The mediation of social support in the manifestation of self-criticism among people experiencing in-work poverty is analysed. The participants were 1430 employed people, grouped into those in a situation of poverty and those who are not. The results show that people in a situation of in-work poverty present a higher score in self-criticism and lower in social support. Social support is a mediating variable that prevents the manifestation of self-criticism. Lastly, a gender analysis shows that women experience this relationship more intensely. These findings enable a critical assessment of the activation policies that only take an individual approach. As an alternative, we propose strengthening interventions that foster social support, particularly among women.

Keywords: in-work poverty; precarious work; social support; social exclusion; coping strategies; self-criticism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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