Job Resources and Work Engagement Among Japanese Anesthesiologists: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Work engagement is an indicator of mental health. All previous studies on the relationship between job resources (i.e., job control, supervisor support, coworker support, and career opportunities) and work engagement among physicians have been conducted in Europe; no studies have been conducted exclusively among anesthesiologists. This cross-sectional study examined the association between job resources and work engagement among Japanese anesthesiologists.

Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to anesthesiologists practicing in all certified hospitals in Japan. We analyzed data from 546 respondents (318 males, mean age 46.7 years) and assessed job resources and work engagement using the New Brief Job Stress Questionnaire and the Japanese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, respectively. We also performed hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Results: After adjusting for demographic characteristics, job control (β = 0.16, p < 0.001), supervisor support (β = 0.13, p = 0.006), and career opportunities (β = 0.37, p < 0.001) were significantly and positively associated with work engagement. In contrast, coworker support (β = 0.06, p = 0.19) was not associated with work engagement.

Conclusions: Job control, supervisor support, and career opportunities were associated with higher work engagement among Japanese anesthesiologists, whereas coworker support was not.