Understanding the Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Psychological Well-being of Preventive Medicine Workers in Northern Vietnam

Abstract

Objective: The study aims to access the relationship between job satisfaction and the psychological well-being of preventive medicine workers in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was implemented in 12 preventive medicine centers in three provinces of northern Vietnam. A total of 400 preventive medicine staff participated, and a total of 383 questionnaires were analyzed. The questionnaire included validated questions related to general information, job satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Results: As expected, job satisfaction is correlated with psychological well-being. This association varied across dimensions. Satisfaction with supervision and community support had the lowest correlations with well-being (0.22 and 0.27, respectively), while co-worker satisfaction and overall job satisfaction had the strongest correlation (0.41 and 0.47, respectively) with psychological well-being. After controlling for personal factors, these correlations remained significant. Co-worker satisfaction and overall job satisfaction were the strongest predictors of psychological well-being (β = 0.38 and 0.45, respectively). Conclusion: Among preventive medicine workers, job satisfaction was positively correlated with psychological well-being. In turn, these findings should contribute to the development of sound policies for human resource management in the health system of Vietnam. A better understanding of the factors contributing to job satisfaction and psychological well-being among preventive medicine workers may help improve their working conditions, which may subsequently improve the quality of healthcare delivery.