[Professional quality of life in the health visitor profession]

The professional quality of life of health visitors is a multidimensional construct. The emotionally demanding nature of the profession necessitates a comprehensive examination of both protective and risk factors.

The study aimed to explore the personal, job-related, and professional support factors determining the professional quality of life of health visitors, and to identify their positive and negative effects.

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among health visitors (N = 286) who had been practicing for at least two years. Alongside self-developed items, the survey assessed multiple dimensions of professional quality of life using the standardized ProQOL instrument.

Higher age was associated with greater work satisfaction and lower emotional overload. A higher level of education was related to a more favourable professional quality of life. Being in a stable relationship functioned as a protective factor. Among job-related characteristics, nurses working in mixed districts experienced greater emotional burden but also reported more positive helping experiences. Substitution increased compassion satisfaction, while prolonged substitution elevated secondary traumatic stress. Professional development activities and case discussions significantly enhanced positive indicators of professional quality of life, whereas limited availability of supervision provided strong protection against burnout and secondary traumatic stress.

The findings confirm that personal resources, job characteristics, and professional support systems are all decisive for the mental well-being of health visitors. The regular presence of positive experiences and support mechanisms can mitigate the psychological burden arising from the profession.

Strengthening professional support systems and ensuring broader and more accessible provision of continuing education, case discussions and clinical supervision are crucial for improving the professional quality of life and preserving the mental health of health visitors. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(7): 274-285.