Changing horses in mid-stream: job and life satisfactions for veterinarians

The differential nature of job activities related to four areas of veterinary work, club or private practice, industry or commerce, Animal Health and Meat Divisions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, were investigated using a ten factor rating scale. The same scale was used to measure these veterinarians; non-job activities. Significant differences were found in average levels of job satisfaction. Meat Division veterinarians, for example, rated their jobs as offering little discretion or control over what, when and how they do things, lacking variety in activities, requiring less mental effort and giving them little control over the speed at which they work. These veterinarians also had the lowest level of job satisfaction. Non-job activities are seen to compensate for non-satisfactory aspects of a job, and levels of life satisfaction among veterinarians was not related to being in a specific area of practice. Certain job and non-job activities, however, are related to the degree of mental well-being in a veterinarian.