Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Volume/Issue:
Volume 3: Issue 3
High prevalence of job dissatisfaction among female physicians: Work-family conflict as a potential stressor
Authors:
Szilvia Ádám Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089, Budapest, Hungary

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Zsuzsa Győrffy Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

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Krisztina László Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

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Pages:
453–461
Online Publication Date:
01 Sep 2009
Publication Date:
01 Sep 2009
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/CEMED.3.2009.28582
Keywords:
role conflict; female physician; stressors; job satisfaction
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Abstract

Introduction: Due to the traditional, family-centric nature of the Hungarian society as well as to the high proportion of women in the medical profession, more female than male physicians may experience work-family conflict. The authors hypothesized that work-family conflict may reduce job satisfaction, an indicator of physician well-being, among female physicians. However, there is limited information about the prevalence of work-family conflict and job dissatisfaction as well as their associations among female physicians.

Aims: To explore the prevalence of work-family conflict and its relations to job dissatisfaction among Hungarian physicians.

Methods: Cross-sectional study with 219 female and 201 male physicians using self-report questionnaires.

Results: As hypothesized, female physicians reported significantly higher level of work-family conflict compared to male physician (3.0 (SD 0.9) vs. 2.6 (SD 0.9); t(df): −3.8 (418); p<.001). Furthermore, significantly more female than male physicians experienced work-family conflict often or extremely often (56% vs. 41%, respectively; χ2(df)=9.3 (1); p<.01). Significantly fewer female (55%) than male physicians (66%) reported high levels of job satisfaction (χ2(df)= 4.8 (1), p<.05). Similarly, significantly more female physicians (13%) experienced high level of job dissatisfaction compared to men (6%) (χ2(df)= 4.7 (1), p<.05). Linear regression analyses showed that work-family conflict predicts job dissatisfaction among female and all physicians (β= −0.17, 95% CI −0.31–−0.04 and β= −0.14, 95% CI −0.22–−0.04, respectively).

Conclusions: These results show that the level and prevalence of work-family conflict experienced by female physicians in Hungary is significantly higher than that among male physicians. Furthermore, these findings suggest that work-family conflict as a stressor may contribute to the development of job dissatisfaction and hence may adversely impact the well-being of female and male physicians and consequently the quality of patient care.

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Cover Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Print ISSN:
2060-6249
Online ISSN:
2060-968X

Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 2007
Publication
Programme		 ceased
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per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 2060-6249 (Print)
ISSN 2060-968X (Online)

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