Explaining job satisfaction and job control: a survey among finnish psychiatrists

Abstract

<p> Background: Job satisfaction has a major impact on mental health and job performance.<br /> Additionally, expected work satisfaction may influence choice of specialization within<br /> medicine.<br /> Methods: A postal survey was conducted in 2009 among the members (N=1398) of<br /> Finnish Psychiatric Association. Out of the members 1132 were still working-aged.<br /> All in all 64.8% (N=738) of the working-aged members returned the survey. Only<br /> psychiatrists and residents were included in the final cohort of the study (N=665).<br /> Factors associated to work satisfaction were studied and a principal component analysis<br /> was conducted on factors reported to disturb working. The correlations of factors<br /> scores with job satisfaction and job-control were analyzed. Spearman correlation<br /> coefficients were calculated between factor scores and work satisfaction.<br /> Results: Most respondents (73.8%) were satisfied with their work. Job satisfaction<br /> showed a negative correlation with increase in pace of work (rho=-0.24, p&lt;0.001). Job<br /> control correlated positively with job satisfaction (rho=0.46, p&lt;0.001). &quot;Working<br /> conditions&quot; factor explained 28.6%, &quot;leadership&quot; 8.8%, &quot;failure without support&quot; 7.8%,<br /> fear at work 6.5% and &quot;patient records&quot; factors 5.9% of the variation of perceived<br /> harmful factors at work. &quot;Working conditions&quot; and &quot;leadership&quot; factors showed the<br /> strongest and most significant negative correlations with job satisfaction (rho=<br /> -0.45, p&lt;0.001, rho=-0.32, p&lt;0.001, respectively. &quot;Working conditions&quot; associated<br /> strongly and significantly with job control (rho=-0.57, p&lt;0.001).<br /> Conclusion: Job satisfaction may be better than expected among psychiatrists<br /> considering the findings of prevalence estimates of burnout in various other studies.<br /> However, employers should put emphasis on matching employers and type of work to<br /> promote well-being of their employees.</p>