Assessment of Life Satisfaction of the Physicians of the Silesian Province, Poland

Background: The medical profession is associated with a heavy psychological and physical burden. Specific working conditions can negatively affect the assessment of physicians’ quality of life. The lack of current studies prompted us to evaluate the life satisfaction of the physicians in the Silesian Province in relation to the selected factors (health status, professional preferences, family and material status). Material and methods: The study included 701 physicians and dentists from the Silesian Province aged between 25 and 80 years. It was conducted in 2018 using the Paper and Pencil Interview technique by obtaining non-personalized demographic, anthropometric, socioeconomic, occupational, health and lifestyle data. The following measures were used: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Occupational Satisfaction and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Considering the environmental conditions, the total SWLS scores were analysed in terms of the significance of differences in the groups. Moreover, the SWLS scores underwent multivariate analysis of variance and the correlation analysis of job satisfaction and the presence of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Results: Life satisfaction among the physicians and dentists from the Silesian Province was at an average level. Significant predictors included age and economic status. Additionally, significant predictors in the younger subjects (25–50 years) included the Body Mass Index and practising sports. In turn, in the older subjects (50–80 years), these predictors were related to hospital work and being on sick leave. The study found a significant moderate association between life satisfaction and professional satisfaction. Additionally, a significantly lower level of life satisfaction was reported in the subjects who presented with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Due to its association with the profession, the mean level of life satisfaction among physicians and dentists prompts verification of crucial spheres related to the physical, emotional, social and material well-being and the activity of the professional group.