Gender differences in work experiences, satisfactions and wellbeing among physicians in Turkey
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate gender differences in work experiences, satisfactions and psychological health among physicians in Turkey.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 237 male and 194 female physicians using an anonymously completed questionnaire. Measures included personal demographic and work situation characteristics, stable individual difference factors (e.g. workaholism components, Type A behavior, optimism), job behaviors (e.g. perfectionism, hours worked), work and extra‐work satisfactions, indicators of work engagement, and psychological wellbeing.
Findings
There were few differences in personal demographic and work situation characteristics. Female physicians had less professional tenure and worked fewer hours and extra‐hours per week. Female and male physicians were similar on stable individual difference factors, job behaviors, work outcomes, extra‐work satisfactions and psychological wellbeing, with a few exceptions. Female physicians reported more work‐family conflict and more psychosomatic symptoms and tended to be absent more.
Research limitations/implications
Data were collected using self‐report questionnaires raising the possibility of response set tendencies. It is also not clear to what extent these findings generalize to male and female physicians in other countries.
Originality/value
Despite previous studies showing considerable gender differences in the work experiences and wellbeing of female and male physicians in other countries, female and male physicians in Turkey reported generally similar job behaviors, satisfactions, quality of life and emotional wellbeing. This suggests that an emphasis on gender similarities rather than gender differences might be warranted.
Keywords
Citation
Burke, R., Koyuncu, M. and Fiksenbaum, L. (2009), "Gender differences in work experiences, satisfactions and wellbeing among physicians in Turkey", Gender in Management, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 70-91. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542410910938781
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited