Influencia del malestar psicológico y el acoso laboral en la autoestima del personal de instituciones de educación superior en Puerto Vallarta, México

In the context of labor precarization within higher education institutions in Latin America, psychological distress and workplace bullying emerge as significant psychosocial risks that impact the well-being of university staff. In this scenario, self-esteem functions as a key protective resource for mental health preservation. The objectives of this study were: (1) to analyze the relationship between self-esteem, psychological distress, and workplace bullying; (2) to assess the influence of sociodemographic variables and psychosocial risks on self-esteem; and (3) to determine their causal effect and predictive capacity. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study involving 400 university employees in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. Pearson correlation analyses, binary logistic regression, and linear regression were conducted. Results indicated that psychological distress had a negative and significant correlation with self-esteem and was the only significant predictor in both regression models. Although workplace bullying was correlated with both psychological distress and self-esteem, it did not directly predict self-esteem. Additionally, sociodemographic variables did not show statistically significant effects on self-esteem. It is concluded that psychological distress is the main factor associated with and predictive of self-esteem among university personnel. Therefore, it is recommended to implement programs focused on preventing and addressing psychological distress, as well as strategies for emotional support and the promotion of healthy work environments

Logistic regression · Mental health · Psychological distress · Psychosocial · Education and Work Dynamics · Stress and Burnout Research · Workplace Violence and Bullying