Life satisfaction of Swedish pediatric oncologists: The role of personality, work-related aspects, and emotional distress.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: The first nationwide, population-based study of Swedish pediatric oncologists was conducted in 2006 and it revealed that various aspects of their life satisfaction obviously influenced their stress-resilience. This second part of the study, with a response rate of 89% in the target group, therefore, focused on their life satisfaction and the role of personality, work-related aspects, and emotional distress related to type of medical center and gender. PROCEDURE: This descriptive study was based on a cross-sectional mail survey with questionnaires involving 90 pediatric oncologists. Using hierarchical regression models, their total, present, past, and future life satisfaction was analyzed. RESULTS: The vast majority (76.7%) stated that working in this medical field was very stimulating for their personal development. Male pediatricians were more satisfied with their present lives and physicians working at academic medical centers were more confident about the future. Some oncologists (13.4%), in particular females at non-academic medical centers, needed professional help dealing with work-related psychological problems. Personality trait (Hedonic Capacity) and low levels of depression contributed to every aspect of overall life satisfaction. Work-related aspects influenced present and future life satisfaction. The models explained between 5% and 43% of the variance in life satisfaction in the whole group. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric oncologists face life-threatening conditions and psychosocial issues factors that may negatively influence their life satisfaction. This study group, a single population of physicians, is characterized by an optimistic attitude and stable emotional status pointing to a high level of satisfaction, which is probably a main basic condition when meeting seriously ill children. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Author information

Author/s: Stenmarker, Margaretha (M); Palmérus, Kerstin (K); Márky, Ildikó (I);

Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. margaretha.stenmarker(-atsign-)telia.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Pediatric blood & cancer (Pediatr Blood Cancer), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Dec; vol 53 (issue 7) : pp 1308-14

Dates: Created 2009/10/19; Completed 2009/11/17;

PMID: 19711441, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 11/17/2009)

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