Job satisfaction in the health professions: The role of affective temperaments

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lombardo, Clara^{a; *} | Mento, Carmela^b | De Stefano, Rosa^a | Infortuna, Carmenrita^a | Iannuzzo, Fiammetta^b | Materia, Nicoletta^b | Muscatello, Maria Rosaria Anna^b | Bruno, Antonio^b

Affiliations: [a] Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital University of Messina, Messina, Italy | [b] Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. Clara Lombardo, Psychiatry Unit, Polyclinic Hospital of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy. E-mail: clara.lombardo1988@gmail.com.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Job satisfaction, as a multidimensional psychological response to work experience, includes both cognitive and affective components which influence individuals’ appraisals and state of minds. In recent years, researchers have begun to explore the psychological processes that might underlie the dispositional causes of job satisfaction. Affective temperaments can influence the experience of emotionally significant events at work and this, in turn, may influence job satisfaction. OBJECTIVE:To investigate possible associations between affective temperamental features and job satisfaction in the health professions. METHODS:The sample consisted of 294 subjects selected among health professionals. Data were collected by an online survey including the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) questionnaire and the short form of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS-A) questionnaire. RESULTS:Hyperthymic, depressive, irritable and anxious temperaments predicted the risk of experiencing job dissatisfaction in healthcare professionals. No associations between cyclothymic temperament and job satisfaction were found. CONCLUSION:The identification of affective temperamental assets and liabilities is potentially useful in the development of supportive and psycho-educational strategies, aimed at preventing work-related stress and promoting mental health in workplaces, also reducing the risk of job dissatisfaction.

Keywords: Affective temperaments, job satisfaction, health professional, professional quality of life

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220164

Journal: Work, vol. 75, no. 3, pp. 1001-1007, 2023