Occupational stress, ethical conflicts, and job satisfaction in animal research environments in Korea

Professionals engaged in animal experimentation within laboratory animal facilities face a range of practical hardships, including emotional distress, professional stress, ethical conflicts, and work environment-related challenges. To address these issues, it is crucial to systematically identify the psychological and emotional burdens, as well as the specific stressors, experienced by individuals in this field. This study examines the ethical conflicts and compassion fatigue encountered by personnel working with laboratory animals in Korea. An online survey was conducted with 165 participants, including animal researchers (laboratory technicians, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students), principal investigators, animal facility managers, and attending veterinarians. The results indicated that animal researchers experienced lower levels of stress and fewer ethical dilemmas than other occupational groups, including principal investigators, attending veterinarians, and animal facility managers. Female respondents reported a higher frequency of ethical dilemmas than male respondents, regardless of occupational role. Participants with less than six years of work experience reported fewer ethical dilemmas than those with longer tenure, suggesting that ethical sensitivity might increase with prolonged exposure to animal experimentation. Euthanasia and animal pain were identified as the primary sources of ethical stress. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that experiences of ethical dilemmas, years of employment, and occupational role were significantly associated with stress levels. These findings underscore the need for organizational-level interventions to mitigate ethical stress and promote a healthier research environment. Strengthening emotional resilience and supporting the overall well-being of personnel working with laboratory animals are essential goals of such efforts.