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Development of life satisfaction in young physicians: results of the prospective SwissMedCareer Study

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Abstract

Purpose

The objectives of the study were to investigate the gender-related development of life satisfaction in young physicians over an 8-year period of residency, to compare it with a representative sample, and to analyze the relationships between both person- and health-related factors and life satisfaction.

Methods

A prospective study was carried out including five measurement points among a cohort of 337 Swiss physicians. Measurements include domain-specific life satisfaction (FLZM), sense of coherence (SOC-13), anxiety and depression (HADS-D), chronic stress (TICS) and socio-demographic variables. Data were analyzed with multivariate procedures.

Results

Life satisfaction in physicians of both genders is lower compared to a representative sample. Over the 8-year period of residency, the course of life satisfaction seems to be rather unstable and domain-specific. Female physicians are more satisfied with life than their male counterparts. Depressive symptoms and stress experience are highly negatively associated with life satisfaction in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

To study the development of life satisfaction over time, it is more appropriate to use a domain-specific life satisfaction questionnaire than a total score. Furthermore, it is a matter of concern that—compared to a representative sample—physicians in residency show lower life satisfaction at all measurement points. Depressive symptoms and chronic stress are found to diminish life satisfaction. This could keep some physicians from staying in the medical profession. Senior physicians should be aware of the negative impact of chronic stress on life satisfaction.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (NF Nos. 3200-061906.00, 3200 BO-102130, 3200 BO-113836).

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosocial Medicine, Zurich University Hospital, Haldenbachstrasse 18, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland

    Richard Klaghofer, Martina Stamm, Claus Buddeberg & Barbara Buddeberg-Fischer

  2. Division of Public and Organizational Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Zurich University, 8001, Zürich, Switzerland

    Georg Bauer, Oliver Hämmig & Michaela Knecht

Authors
  1. Richard Klaghofer
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  2. Martina Stamm
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  3. Claus Buddeberg
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  4. Georg Bauer
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  5. Oliver Hämmig
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  6. Michaela Knecht
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  7. Barbara Buddeberg-Fischer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard Klaghofer.

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Klaghofer, R., Stamm, M., Buddeberg, C. et al. Development of life satisfaction in young physicians: results of the prospective SwissMedCareer Study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84, 159–166 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0553-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0553-z

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