Healthy, but are they Satisfied? Factors Associated with Job Satisfaction in Professional Soldiers of the Slovenian Armed Forces

Abstract

Aim: To identify factors associated with job satisfaction in professional soldiers of the Slovenian Armed Forces using demographic characteristics, burnout, personality traits, and health and working environment characteristics. Method: 361 military personnel (317 male (87.8%), 44 female (12.2%)) participated in a cross-sectional study (80.6% response rate). Sample data was presented by frequency and percentage distribution for categorical variables, or by mean value and standard deviation for continuous variables. The Pearson correlation coefficient, the independent sample t-test and the one-way ANOVA were used for the univariate statistical comparison. Variables significantly related to job satisfaction were included in the multivariate linear regression. The linear model calculation included coefficient B, 95% confidence interval for B, Beta coefficient, and P value. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS 15.0 software. P value < 0.05 was marked as statistically significant. Results: Emotional exhaustion negatively affected satisfaction with work (β=-0.20; p<0.05), supervision (β=-0.15; p<0.05), salary (β=-0.22; p<0.05) and promotion prospects (β=-0.15; p<0.05). Satisfaction with co-workers mostly showed different associations; there was a negative association between satisfaction with co-workers and female gender (β=-0.16; p<0.05) and depersonalization (β=-0.25; p<0.05) and positive association between satisfaction with co-workers and achieving additional training (β=0.11; p<0.05) and number of divorces (β=0.12; p<0.05). Most variation was associated with the organizational characteristics; individual traits and health were not proven to have an impact. Conclusion: Emotional exhaustion, but not physical health or its assessment, is a good predictor of poor overall job satisfaction and most of its components.

Levels of Burnout Syndrome in Croatian Critical Care Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, the authors did not distinguish any differences between clinical settings, and only tried to compare the size of the hospital (Mijakovski et al 2011). A group of Slovenian authors reported a high level of EE (46%) in a sample of family medicine trainees, which correlated with the findings of Ožvačić-Adžić et al, but they also found a high level of DP (42.4%) and a low level of PA (15.2%), which does not correlate with the reviewed studies (Selič et al 2012, Ožvačić-Adžić et al 2013). Selič et al did not find any relationship between the MBI dimensions and gender, which was also shown in our study (Selič et al 2012).…”

“…In Slovenia, Selič et al conducted a cross-sectional study of Slovenian family medicine trainees, nearly every fifth (18.3%) scored high in all three dimensions (Selic et al 2012). There is insufficient understanding of job satisfaction as a crucial factor in the development of burnout, and a need for more detailed research (Selič et al 2012). Prevention of burnout syndrome should be a priority for multiple stakeholders in the healthcare system, and all levels of management must be involved in order to reduce its prevalence and prevent its effects on nurses, healthcare workers and the overall system (Moss & Kleinpell 2019).…”

The Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Slovenian Armed Forces Members on a Peacekeeping Mission in the Western Balkans / Dejavniki, Povezani Z Depresijo In Tesnobnostjo Pri Slovenskih Vojakih Na Mirovni Misiji Na Zahodnem Balkanu

“…In one of our previous studies on Slovenian Armed Forces members, longer sick leave duration was found in female soldiers (26) and a negative association between satisfaction with co-workers and female gender was identified (39). It was suggested that special attention should be given to female soldiers when planning supervision, work procedures, and the gender equality policy of the Armed Forces (39). However, in present study, female gender was not identified to be significantly associated with variables of interest, which is probably due to the low proportion of women in the surveyed group.…”

“…Both depression and anxiety are known to be more prevalent in women (37,38), but in our study female gender was not shown to be significantly associated with either the SDS or SAS score (Table 3) or with the co-occurrence of depression and anxiety (Table 4). In one of our previous studies on Slovenian Armed Forces members, longer sick leave duration was found in female soldiers (26) and a negative association between satisfaction with co-workers and female gender was identified (39). It was suggested that special attention should be given to female soldiers when planning supervision, work procedures, and the gender equality policy of the Armed Forces (39).…”

Did past economic prosperity affect the health related quality of life predictors? A longitudinal study on a representative sample of Slovenian family medicine patients

“…A cross-sectional study performed in 2011 in Slovenia showed a significantly higher prevalence of chronic diseases in those with a lower socio-economic status and in pensioners [ 58 ]. Since level of education has been shown to be associated with socioeconomic status in the Slovenian active population [ 59 ], the explanation could lie partially in this characteristic. Selic and co-workers [ 60 ] reported the burden of somatic co-morbidity to be smaller than the impact of psychosocial determinants when identifying the patterns of physical co-morbidity and factors associated with the onset of depression.…”