Relationship between job satisfaction, burnout syndrome and depressive symptoms in physicians: a cross-sectional study based on the employment demand–control model using structural equation modelling

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between job satisfaction, burnout syndrome (BS) and depressive symptoms (DS) based on the job demand–control framework model on a nationally representative sample of physicians working in the Peruvian Health System.SettingWe carried out a secondary data analysis of the National Survey of Satisfaction of Users in Health 2016 in Peru.Primary and secondary outcome measuresOur study assessed the development of the predictive model and had two parts: (1) to evaluate the association among the variables based on the job demand–control framework, and (2) to assess the proposed model acceptability using the structural equation modelling approach to estimate goodness-of-fit indices (GOFIs).ParticipantsWe excluded physicians older than 65 years, who did not report income levels or who had missing data related to the workplace. Thus, we analysed 2100 participants.ResultsThe prevalence of DS was 3.3%. Physicians’ work-related illnesses had more probability to result in DS (prevalence ratio=2.23). DS was moderately related to BS dimensions (r>0.50); nevertheless, the relationships between DS and the three job satisfaction scales were weak (r<0.30). The first predictive model based on the variables, DS, BS and job satisfaction, had low GOFIs (comparative fit index (CFI)=0.883; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.125). In a second evaluation, we used models with correlated errors obtaining optimal GOFIs (CFI=0.974; RMSEA=0.060).ConclusionsOur study identified a stable model to explain the relationship between job satisfaction, BS and DS among physicians. The results are consistent with the job demand–control framework. They could be applied to decision-making in occupational contexts in Latin American low/middle-income countries.

Prevalence and factors associated with burnout syndrome in Peruvian health professionals before the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

“…In this regard, in previous studies conducted in Peru and Mexico, family separation, number of children and relationship with a partner were associated with burnout [ 45 , 61 ]. The results of this study confirm the psychosocial model, which maintains that the origin and development of BS occurs mainly in the workplace [ [62] , [63] , [64] ], and theories of social and organizational exchange [ 26 , 65 ].…”

Effect of job satisfaction on depression after adjusting for satisfaction with other life domains

“…Furthermore, job satisfaction affects burnout, and burnout influences depression. 26 Research results on sex differences in burnout are not consistent, but some studies that targeted specific occupations found that women are slightly more vulnerable to burnout than men. 27 28 Therefore, when job satisfaction is low, women may be more prone to experiencing burnout, and this could increase the risk of depression.…”

The Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Adults Aged 35–60 Years: The Mediating Role of Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

“…Linking job stress to depression, Wang and Patten hypothesized that employees who reported high psychological demands, low decision latitude, high levels of physical exertion, job insecurity, or lack of support from co-workers would be more likely to suffer from major depression than individuals who reported low stress in those areas [32]. Combing through the studies on the relationship between job satisfaction and depression, we found that most of the studies were based on a specific occupation (doctors [27] or nurses [33]), limited sample areas (data were usually collected in a specific workplace [34]), or limited sample size (less than 10,000 respondents [29]), so the conclusions acquired were targeted and difficult to generalize. As the main workers in current society, adults aged 35-60 years usually carry the responsibility and burden of working, so the association between their job satisfaction and depressive symptoms is still worth further exploration.…”

“…Some meta-analyses have found that job satisfaction had a significant negative effect on depression [73,74], which suggests that higher job satisfaction results in less depression. Although job satisfaction is a concept based on the worker's perception, it directly reflects the actual conditions of the workplace [27]. Poor working conditions are often associated with low income and low job security, the absence of pensions and health benefits, greater risk of layoff, and lack of social protection from unions and labor laws for employees [75][76][77][78].…”

“…A previous survey on health care workers in Brazil observed that higher job satisfaction was a protective factor for depression, which could reduce the frequency of poor mental health outcomes [26]. Similarly, a cross-sectional study carried out in Peru indicated that workers with low job satisfaction had a higher probability of developing mental health issues such as depressive symptoms [27]. A meta-analysis involving 43,884 rural-to-urban migrant workers in China showed that job satisfaction was correlated with depressive symptoms [28].…”