The impact of workload and job satisfaction on occupational stress – A comparison among newly qualified and experienced midwives

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Midwives are potentially exposed to high levels of occupational stress. The level of stress may be related to the job demands and job resources, as well as midwife seniority. To date, few studies on the determinants of occupational stress have examined Polish midwives. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the roles of workload, job satisfaction, and seniority in shaping the stress levels of midwives in Poland. METHODS: A cross-sectional approach and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to compare two groups: newly qualified midwives (NQMs; n = 79) and experienced midwives (n = 99). All data were collected between January and November 2018. RESULTS: Analysis revealed that in both NQMs (β = 0.34, p = 0.006) and experienced midwives (β = 0.40, p < 0.001) workload was a positive predictor of occupational stress. In contrast, job satisfaction was found to be a negative predictor of stress in both groups (NQMs: β = -0.44, p < 0.001; experienced midwives: β = -0.57, p < 0.001). The study groups did not differ significantly in terms of the levels of workload, job satisfaction, and occupational stress. CONCLUSION: Workload and job satisfaction are predictors of occupational stress in midwives. The results of this study indicate the important role of job satisfaction and workload in the shaping of occupational stress levels. Resource-rich and low-stress work environments can enhance the quality of health care provided by midwives.