A comparison of general and ambulance specific stressors: predictors of job satisfaction and health problems in a nationwide one-year follow-up study of Norwegian ambulance personnel

Abstract

ObjectivesTo address the relative importance of general job-related stressors, ambulance specific stressors and individual characteristics in relation to job satisfaction and health complaints (emotional exhaustion, psychological distress and musculoskeletal pain) among ambulance personnel.Materials and methodsA nationwide prospective questionnaire survey of ambulance personnel in operational duty at two time points (n = 1180 at baseline, T1 and n = 298 at one-year follow up, T2). The questionnaires included the Maslach Burnout Inventory, The Job Satisfaction Scale, Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-10), Job Stress Survey, the Norwegian Ambulance Stress Survey and the Basic Character Inventory.ResultsOverall, 42 out of the possible 56 correlations between job stressors at T1 and job satisfaction and health complaints at T2 were statistically significant. Lower job satisfaction at T2 was predicted by frequency of lack of leader support and severity of challenging job tasks. Emotional exhaustion at T2 was predicted by neuroticism, frequency of lack of support from leader, time pressure, and physical demands. Adjusted for T1 levels, emotional exhaustion was predicted by neuroticism (beta = 0.15, p < .05) and time pressure (beta = 0.14, p < 0.01). Psychological distress at T2 was predicted by neuroticism and lack of co-worker support. Adjusted for T1 levels, psychological distress was predicted by neuroticism (beta = 0.12, p < .05). Musculoskeletal pain at T2 was predicted by, higher age, neuroticism, lack of co-worker support and severity of physical demands. Adjusted for T1 levels, musculoskeletal pain was predicted neuroticism, and severity of physical demands (beta = 0.12, p < .05).ConclusionsLow job satisfaction at T2 was predicted by general work-related stressors, whereas health complaints at T2 were predicted by both general work-related stressors and ambulance specific stressors. The personality variable neuroticism predicted increased complaints across all health outcomes.

Comparación entre los predictores del estrés laboral según el nivel de actividad física, edad, género y antigüedad laboral en un grupo de funcionarios administrativos del sector público costarricense

“…De manera similar, Berg et al (2006), en policías noruegos, encontraron valores elevados para la frecuencia e intensidad del predictor asociado a la presión en el trabajo, mientras que en las mujeres se observaron valores superiores en la intensidad en el predictor de presión en el trabajo. Asimismo, Sterud et al (2011) y Lua e Imilia (2011) encontraron, en personal de la salud, puntuaciones altas para los predictores relacionados con la presión en el trabajo y la falta de organización, de manera que se relacionaron significativamente con los niveles de estrés. Del mismo modo, Assadi et al (2003), en organizaciones relacionadas con la educación física, encontraron altos niveles de estrés en relación con el predictor asociado a la falta de organización en tales empresas, principalmente en la percepción de la intensidad de este.…”

“…Asociado a lo anterior, diversos son los predictores desencadenantes de estrés laboral donde la frecuencia constante en su manifestación se ha relacionado positivamente (p = 0.01) con altos niveles de presión en el trabajo y falta de apoyo social, reflejados en estadios de ansiedad y malestares subjetivos en salud (Berg et al, 2006;Sterud et al, 2011). De igual forma, la falta de organización en aspectos como la sobrecarga de trabajo, insuficiencia de recursos, la falta de comunicación, dinámicas de trabajo y estilos de gestión, entre otros, emergen como causas generadoras de estrés (Assadi, 2003).…”

Current state of knowledge of post-traumatic stress, sleeping problems, obesity and cardiovascular disease in paramedics

“…However, most studies show a lack of social support among paramedics faced with the frequency of shocking events 13 14. It has been shown that a lack of support from coworkers and working overtime, are also strongly related to the severity of stressors 12 15. Along the same lines, a cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire study reported a high perceived effort combined with low perceived reward 16.…”

“…Some authors have suggested that individual differences in stress regulation (eg, neuroticism, introversion, self-efficacy) might explain the high level of emotional distress symptoms among ambulance personnel 12 15 17. Individuals who can regulate distress may experience briefer postincident distress and fewer long-term emotional difficulties.…”

Validering av eit måleinstrument for jobbtilfredsheit

“…Føre-målet med JSS var å utvikle eit enkelt måleinstrument som kan kartlegge dei viktigaste dimensjonane av jobbtilfredsheit. Dette sjølvadministrerte skjemaet har blitt brukt for å måle legar og anna helsepersonell sin jobbtilfredsheit både nasjonalt og internasjonalt, noko som tyder på at innhaldsvaliditeten har blitt vurdert som god (6)(7)(8). Sidan JSS er generelt så kan det brukast til å samanlikne jobbtilfredsheit hos ulike yrkesgrupper.…”