Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023
Whilst recognizing the abundantly positive aspects within the different domains of the veterinary profession, the challenging socio-economic and cultural working climate has been identified as a source of veterinary mental wellbeing issues. This mixed methods study provides an overview of the mental...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/1/48 |
| _version_ | 1797342479958147072 |
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| author | Wiebke Jansen Lizzie Lockett Tricia Colville Mette Uldahl Nancy De Briyne |
| author_facet | Wiebke Jansen Lizzie Lockett Tricia Colville Mette Uldahl Nancy De Briyne |
| author_sort | Wiebke Jansen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Whilst recognizing the abundantly positive aspects within the different domains of the veterinary profession, the challenging socio-economic and cultural working climate has been identified as a source of veterinary mental wellbeing issues. This mixed methods study provides an overview of the mental state of veterinarians across Europe via two cross-sectional surveys in 2018/2019 (<i>n</i> = 14,559 veterinarians) and in 2022/2023 (<i>n</i> = 12,393 veterinarians). Mental wellbeing was assessed using 3 indicators: self-reported stress levels, the need for medical leave due to reduced mental wellbeing (22% and 23%, resp., in 2018/2019 and 2022/2023) and the seven-question Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (2018/2019: 25, 2022/2023: 24.8). In both surveys, important differences were spotlighted between countries, but early-career veterinarians and female veterinarians were most at risk of decreased mental wellbeing all over Europe for all indicators. In conclusion, stress levels and need for medical leave due to reduced mental wellbeing remained at comparatively high levels across the two surveys and standardized mental wellbeing scores remained equally low. Notwithstanding the increased attention given to veterinary wellbeing in the last decade, our results underline that major efforts remain necessary, by creating more supportive and attractive workplaces that prioritize wellbeing, a good work/life balance, and providing job satisfaction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:33:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e27e2d53fa9245a4bddf0e403c4cf32e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:33:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-e27e2d53fa9245a4bddf0e403c4cf32e2024-01-26T18:46:00ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812024-01-011114810.3390/vetsci11010048Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023Wiebke Jansen0Lizzie Lockett1Tricia Colville2Mette Uldahl3Nancy De Briyne4Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, Rue Victor Oudart 7, 1030 Brussels, BelgiumRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons, The Cursitor, 38 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1EN, UKVets Now Emergency Limited, Penguin House, Castle Riggs, Dunfermline KY11 8SG, UKVejle Hestepraksis, Fasanvej 12, 7120 Vejle, DenmarkFederation of Veterinarians of Europe, Rue Victor Oudart 7, 1030 Brussels, BelgiumWhilst recognizing the abundantly positive aspects within the different domains of the veterinary profession, the challenging socio-economic and cultural working climate has been identified as a source of veterinary mental wellbeing issues. This mixed methods study provides an overview of the mental state of veterinarians across Europe via two cross-sectional surveys in 2018/2019 (<i>n</i> = 14,559 veterinarians) and in 2022/2023 (<i>n</i> = 12,393 veterinarians). Mental wellbeing was assessed using 3 indicators: self-reported stress levels, the need for medical leave due to reduced mental wellbeing (22% and 23%, resp., in 2018/2019 and 2022/2023) and the seven-question Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (2018/2019: 25, 2022/2023: 24.8). In both surveys, important differences were spotlighted between countries, but early-career veterinarians and female veterinarians were most at risk of decreased mental wellbeing all over Europe for all indicators. In conclusion, stress levels and need for medical leave due to reduced mental wellbeing remained at comparatively high levels across the two surveys and standardized mental wellbeing scores remained equally low. Notwithstanding the increased attention given to veterinary wellbeing in the last decade, our results underline that major efforts remain necessary, by creating more supportive and attractive workplaces that prioritize wellbeing, a good work/life balance, and providing job satisfaction.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/1/48veterinarymental healthwellbeingburnoutstressWEMWBS |
| spellingShingle | Wiebke Jansen Lizzie Lockett Tricia Colville Mette Uldahl Nancy De Briyne Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023 Veterinary Sciences veterinary mental health wellbeing burnout stress WEMWBS |
| title | Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023 |
| title_full | Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023 |
| title_fullStr | Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023 |
| title_short | Veterinarian—Chasing A Dream Job? A Comparative Survey on Wellbeing and Stress Levels among European Veterinarians between 2018 and 2023 |
| title_sort | veterinarian chasing a dream job a comparative survey on wellbeing and stress levels among european veterinarians between 2018 and 2023 |
| topic | veterinary mental health wellbeing burnout stress WEMWBS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/1/48 |
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