Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T08:31:52.765Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Predictors of a healthy workplace for Swedish and English psychiatrists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Sarah Thomsen ,
Janie Dallender ,
Joaquim Soares ,
Peter Nolan  and
Bengt Arnetz
Sarah Thomsen*
Affiliation:
National Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health, Stockholm
Janie Dallender
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham Medical School, Department of Nursing
Joaquim Soares
Affiliation:
Center for Psychosocial Research, Stockholm
Peter Nolan
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham Medical School, Department of Nursing
Bengt Arnetz
Affiliation:
National Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health, Stockholm
*
S. Thomsen, National Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health, Box 230, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: 46 8 728 70 10; Fax: 46 8 33 43 96; e-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Few studies have attempted to analyse the organisational aspects of the workplace that may affect the well-being of psychiatrists and even fewer have offered insights into what a positive workplace might look like. This study provides an outline of such a workplace, with reference to individual and organisational factors. In addition, a comparison is made between two European cities to check for cultural differences.

Method

Three hundred and eighty psychiatrists from Stockholm and Birmingham responded to a previously tested questionnaire on their work environment.

Results

Predictors of a positive workplace for psychiatrists were: high self-esteem, satisfactory support with work-related problems, lower perceived workload, positive view of leadership, low work-related exhaustion and having a sense of participation in the organisation. There were few cultural differences.

Conclusions

Measures should be taken to improve leadership skills for managers, to offer more support for work-related problems, and to allow psychiatrists to participate more in the organisation.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 173 , Issue 1 , July 1998 , pp. 80 - 84
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arnetz, B. B. (1996) Techno-stress: A prospective psychophysiological study of the impact of a controlled stress-reduction program in advanced telecommunication systems design work. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 38, 53–65.Google Scholar
Arnetz, B. B. (1997) Physicians' view of their work environment and organisation. Psychotherapy and Psychosomattcs, 66, 155–162.Google Scholar
Deary, I. J. Agius, R. M. & Sadler, A. (1996) Personality and stress in consultant psychiatrists. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 42, 112–123.Google Scholar
Hallsten, L. (1993) Burning out: A framework. I. Professional Burnout: Recent Developments in Theory and Research (ed. Schaufeli, W B.), pp. 95–113. Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis.Google Scholar
Leary, J. & Brown, D. (1995) Findings from the Claybury study for ward based psychiatric nurses and comparisons with community psychiatric nurses. I. Stress and Coping in Mental Health Nursing (eds Carson, J. Fagin, L. & Ritter, S.), pp. 87–114. London: Chapman and Hall.Google Scholar
Leiter, M. R. & Harvie, P. L. (1996) Burnout among mental health workers: A review and a research agenda. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 42, 90–101.Google Scholar
Looney, J. G. Harding, R. K. Blotcky, M. J. et al (1980) Psychiatrists' transition from training to career: Stress and mastery. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 32–36.Google ScholarPubMed
Margtson, F. (1987) Stress in Psychiatrists. I. Stress in Health Professionals (eds Payne, R. & Firth-Cozens, J.), pp. 107–124. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar
May, H. J. A. Revicki, D. A. (1985) Professional stress among family physicians. Journal of Family Practice, 20, 165–171.Google ScholarPubMed
Naisberg-Fennig, S. Fennig, S. Hainan, G. et al (1991) Personality characteristics and proneness to burnout: A study among psychiatrists. Stress Medicine, 7, 201–205.Google Scholar
Nolan, P. Cushway, D. & Tyler, P. (1995) A measurement tool for assessing stress among mental health nurses. Nursing Standard, 46, 36–39.Google Scholar
Petterson, I. L. Arnetz, B. B. & Arnetz, J. E. (1995) Predictors of job satisfaction and job influence: Results from a national sample of Swedish nurses. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 64, 9–19.Google Scholar
Petterson, I. L. Arnetz, B. B. (1997) Measuring psychosocial work quality and health: Development of health care measures of measurement. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2, 229–241.Google Scholar
Pines, A. & Maslach, C. (1978) Characteristics of staff burnout in mental health settings. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 29, 233–237.Google Scholar
Prasser, D. Johnson, S. Kuipers, E. et al (1996) Mental health, ‘burnout’ and job satisfaction among hospital and community-based mental health staff. British Journal of Psychiatry, 169, 334–337.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, M. (1965) Society and the Adolescent Self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.