Psychosocial risk factors and perceived health of medical residents

Several investigations have shown that residents are especially vulnerable to work stress, with the greatest relevance placed on psychosocial factors.

To investigate the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and general, mental and vitality perceived health and job satisfaction among residents in a teaching hospital for a preventive intervention program.

This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data on psychosocial factors (F-PSICO-INSHT-4.0), perceived general, mental and vitality health (36-item Short Form Survey questionnaire), and overall job satisfaction were collected from an anonymous, online survey (2018). Univariate and multivariate analysis was done.

The survey was answered by 107 residents (31% response rate). Female residents had worse perceived mental health than males (P < 0.05). Residents showed a worsening of vitality from the second year to the residency end (P < 0.05). No gender or year of residency differences were found related to general health. Job satisfaction worsened during years of residency (P < 0.01), with no gender differences. The psychosocial factors identified as potential risk factors were workload, emotional demands, participation/supervision and role performance. Multivariate linear regression models showed that compensation and role clarity explain 18% of the variation in general health score (adjusted-R2 = 0.183); role clarity, emotional demands, interpersonal conflicts and difficulty at work the 32% of the variation in mental health outcome (adjusted-R2 = 0.315); and compensation, time pressure, gender and supervision the 32% of the variability of vitality outcome (adjusted-R2 = 0.320).

These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial risk factors in perceived health, and overall satisfaction in medical residents during their specialist training.