ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Occupational Health and Safety
This article is part of the Research TopicPromoting Mental Health among Healthcare ProfessionalsView all 8 articles
Study on the Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Professional Identity Among Young Medical Professionals from the Perspective of New Quality Productive Forces
Provisionally accepted
- 1Guangzhou Medical University Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou, China
- 2The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
- 3The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- 4Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Abstract Background: Amidst the rapid reshaping of the healthcare sector by New Quality Productive Forces (NQPFs), an advanced productivity paradigm is characterized by innovation-driven, high-tech, high-efficiency, and high-quality features. This study investigates young medical professionals (18–40 years). As the core workforce driving medical innovation, their professional identity and job autonomy directly influence the development of NQPFs.. Objective: This study aims to explore the relationship between perceived social support and professional identity among young medical professionals within the New Quality Productive Forces (NQPFs) framework, using a parallel mediation model to examine the independent mediating roles of role cognition and work autonomy. The findings are intended to generate hypotheses and provide a theoretical basis for future longitudinal research, which can inform the development of evidence-based policies. Methods: A total of 730 young professionals (aged 18-40 years) from 12 Grade A Tertiary Hospitals in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, completed online questionnaires. Measurement instruments included Chinese versions of the Professional Identity Scale, Role Cognition Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Work Autonomy Scale. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics with SPSS software and structural equation modeling (SEM) for testing mediating effects via AMOS software. Results: Perceived social support significantly influenced professional identity, with a total effect of b=0.625. This comprised a direct effect of b=0.374 (accounting for 59.80% of the total effect) and an indirect effect mediated by role cognition of b=0.251. The mediating effect of work autonomy was nonsignificant. Conclusion: This study confirmed that perceived social support among young medical professionals directly influences their professional identity, while also indirectly affecting it through role cognition. The mediating role of work autonomy was not substantiated. These findings deepened the understanding of professional identity formation mechanisms in healthcare talent and highlighted the pivotal role of social support and role cognition within the New Quality Productive Forces (NQPFs) context.
Keywords: Middle-aged and young medical professionals, professional identity, New QualityProductive Forces (NQPFs), Mediating effect, social support
Received: 07 Oct 2025; Accepted: 27 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Li, Chen, Lin, Gong, Huang and Lin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Weizhang Huang
Peijun Lin
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