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Burnout, satisfaction and happiness among German general practitioners (GPs): A cross-sectional survey on health resources and stressors

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  • Lena Werdecker
  • Tobias Esch

Abstract

Well-being is a major issue among health care professionals, especially physicians. Less job satisfaction and impaired health can have an impact on health care quality. Our aim was to examine the association of stressors (illegitimate tasks) and health related resources (work-related sense of coherence; recovery experience) with life satisfaction, happiness, job satisfaction and burnout among German general practitioners (GPs). We conducted a cross-sectional survey among general medical practices in Germany. Main outcome measures were life satisfaction, happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale), job satisfaction (Work Satisfaction Scale) and burnout (Copenhagen Burnout Inventory). 548 GPs from across Germany participated (53.6% males, 45.6% females; mostly representative of German GPs). One third (35.2%) of the participants reported a high prevalence of personal, and one quarter (26.5%) indicated a high prevalence of work-related burnout symptoms. Illegitimate tasks are negatively associated with life and job satisfaction and are positively associated with personal, work-related and patient-related burnout among GPs. Work-SoC and recovery experience are positively associated with life satisfaction, happiness, and job satisfaction and are negatively associated with personal, work-related and patient-related burnout. Female physicians have a higher job satisfaction than male physicians. Being female and working as an employed physician is associated with a higher prevalence of personal burnout symptoms. GPs working in a group practice are happier and more satisfied with their job than GPs in single practices. Personal, work-related and patient-related burnout symptoms are stronger in GPs working in a single practice than in GPs in group practices. Our results highlight that Work-SoC, recovery experience and illegitimate tasks are important for creating work-related well-being among GPs. Introducing health promotion activities which aim to strengthen recovery experience and Work-SoC, as well as interventions to restructure tasks, may increase life satisfaction, happiness, and job satisfaction and reduce burnout symptoms in this health care profession.

Suggested Citation

  • Lena Werdecker & Tobias Esch, 2021. "Burnout, satisfaction and happiness among German general practitioners (GPs): A cross-sectional survey on health resources and stressors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-19, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0253447
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253447
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    Cited by:

    1. Yasumasa Otsuka & Yukiko Sagisaka & Junko Nakamura & Keiko Hara & Masaki Okada & Yuko Takeuchi & Mizuki Tsuchiya & Yutaka Monden, 2023. "Happiness Detected by the Emotion Cognition System Is Associated with Burnout in an Information Technology Products and Services Trading Company," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Pablo González-Rico & Eloísa Guerrero-Barona & Maria José Chambel & Mónica Guerrero-Molina, 2022. "Well-Being at Work: Burnout and Engagement Profiles of University Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Claire Collins & Els Clays & Esther Van Poel & Joanna Cholewa & Katica Tripkovic & Katarzyna Nessler & Ségolène de Rouffignac & Milena Šantrić Milićević & Zoran Bukumiric & Limor Adler & Cécile Ponsar, 2022. "Distress and Wellbeing among General Practitioners in 33 Countries during COVID-19: Results from the Cross-Sectional PRICOV-19 Study to Inform Health System Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Joana Berger-Estilita & Sandra Abegglen & Nadja Hornburg & Robert Greif & Alexander Fuchs, 2022. "Health-Promoting Quality of Life at Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 12-Month Longitudinal Study on the Work-Related Sense of Coherence in Acute Care Healthcare Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.

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