[Working Conditions and Mental Health Among Salaried Physicians: A Nationwide Comparison With a Representative Sample...

Do the amount of workload, strain and the association between both differ between employed physician and other employees subject to social security contributions? This is investigated in this present study by comparing two representative samples.

Psycho-social working conditions were by assessed computer-assisted personal interviews and supplemented by questions about burnout and depressive symptoms. The associations were investigated by linear regression analysis including moderating effects due to differences between occupations.

The score for depressive symptoms was lower among male and female physicians than in the comparison groups. Moreover, male physician had higher scores for burnout. Quantitative demands and job insecurity were associated with an increase of scores for burnout and depressive symptoms. Higher quality of leadership, role clarity, and decision latitude contributed to a decrease of both scores. Additional effects were found for hours worked per week (females) and number of night shifts (males). The moderating effect of occupational group was detected for quantitative demands and decision latitude.

The associations of working conditions with mental health indicators are similar in the compared groups. There is a higher workload and higher level of burnout among physicians but there is no indication for more depressive symptoms.