his study aims to examine the effects of empathy and self-esteem on human rights sensitivity among workers in mental health promotion facilities, focusing on the mediating role of social support. As digital transformation expands across society, the i...
his study aims to examine the effects of empathy and self-esteem on human rights sensitivity among workers in mental health promotion facilities, focusing on the mediating role of social support. As digital transformation expands across society, the integration of information technologies into mental health services has improved accessibility but simultaneously generated new human rights concerns, including privacy risks, algorithmic bias, and online stigma. These changes underscore the need to strengthen human rights sensitivity among mental health professionals. Previous studies indicate that human rights sensitivity comprises situation recognition, consequence recognition, and responsibility attribution, and is influenced by job-related, demographic, and psychological variables. However, empirical research focusing specifically on mental health promotion facility workers remains limited, particularly regarding the mediating function of social support.
An online survey was conducted with 117 workers from mental health promotion facilities in the central region of Korea to analyze the relationships among empathy, self-esteem, social support, and human rights sensitivity. The results revealed significant positive correlations among the variables, indicating that both empathy and self-esteem directly affect human rights sensitivity and that social support plays a meaningful mediating role. These findings demonstrate that social support functions as an essential psychological resource that enhances workers’ capacity to recognize and respond to human rights issues. This study highlights the need for multidimensional strategies—such as empathy training, self-esteem enhancement programs, and organizational support systems—to promote human rights sensitivity. The results offer foundational insights for developing human rights education and improving service quality within the mental health welfare field.