Identifying distress among general practitioners: predictors of psychological ill-health and job dissatisfaction.

This paper attempts to identify sources of job stress and personality factors as predictors of psychological ill-health and job dissatisfaction among a large sample of general practitioners in the United Kingdom. Compared to a normative sample, male doctors exhibit significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression, whereas female doctors compare favourably to the population norms. Job satisfaction levels were significantly lower than when they were measured in 1987, although women were less job dissatisfied than men. The main predictors of lack of mental well-being were the job stressors associated with the 'demands of the job and patients' expectations', 'practice administration and routine medical work', 'role stress' and the use of 'social support' as a coping strategy.