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Job stress and job satisfaction of physicians in private practice: comparison of German and Norwegian physicians

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Abstract

Purpose

This study examined job satisfaction and job stress of German compared to Norwegian physicians in private practice.

Methods

A representative sample of physicians in private practice of Schleswig–Holstein, Germany (N = 414) and a nationwide sample of Norwegian general practitioners and private practice specialists (N = 340) were surveyed in a cross-sectional design in 2010. The questionnaire comprised the standard instruments “Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS)” and a short form of the “Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI)”.

Results

Norwegian physicians scored significantly higher (<0.01) on all items of the job satisfaction scale compared to German physicians (M 5.57, SD 0.74 vs. M 4.78, SD 1.01). The effect size was highest for the items freedom to choose method (d = 1.012), rate of pay (d = 0.941), and overall job satisfaction (d = 0.931). While there was no significant difference in the mean of the overall effort scale between German and Norwegian physicians, Norwegian physicians scored significantly higher (p < 0.01) on the reward scale. A larger proportion of German physicians (27.6%) presented with an effort/reward ratio beyond 1.0, indicating a risky level of work-related stress, compared to only 10.3% of Norwegian physicians. Working hours, effort, reward, and country differences accounted for 37.4% of the explained variance of job satisfaction.

Conclusions

Job satisfaction and reward were significantly higher in Norwegian than in German physicians. An almost threefold higher proportion of German physicians exhibited a high level of work-related stress. Findings call for active prevention and health promotion among stressed practicing physicians, with a special focus on improved working conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We kindly thank the Research Institute of the Norwegian Medical Association and the Medical Association of Schleswig–Holstein for the generous support of the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Friedensau Adventist University, An der Ihle 19, 39291, Friedensau, Germany

    Edgar Voltmer

  2. Department of Medical Sociology, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Johannes Siegrist

  3. The Research Institute of the Norwegian Medical Association, P.O.B. 1152 Sentrum, 0107, Oslo, Norway

    Judith Rosta & Olaf G. Aasland

  4. Institute of Health and Society, Department of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, 1130 Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway

    Olaf G. Aasland

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  1. Edgar Voltmer
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  2. Judith Rosta
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  4. Olaf G. Aasland
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Correspondence to Edgar Voltmer.

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Voltmer, E., Rosta, J., Siegrist, J. et al. Job stress and job satisfaction of physicians in private practice: comparison of German and Norwegian physicians. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 85, 819–828 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0725-5

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