Life satisfaction and peace of mind among dentists: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Clinical oral investigations Vol. 27; no. 11; pp. 6421 - 6428
• Main Authors: Fu, Martin M., Fu, Min-Wen, Chen, Rebecca Y., Chan, Hsun-Liang, Lee, Tony Szu-Hsien, Fu, Earl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.11.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Dentists - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Medicine; Personal Satisfaction; Private Practice; Surveys and Questionnaires; School dentistry; Private practice; Happiness; Specialization; Dental residency; Career choice; Graduate dental education
• ISSN: 1436-3771; 1432-6981; 1436-3771
• DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05245-2

Objectives This study sought to identify the factors associated with the life satisfaction and peace of mind (PoM) of dentists not in full-time clinical training. Materials and methods Cross-sectional questionnaires were distributed to dentists in Taiwan to collect their life satisfaction, PoM, sociodemographic data, and dental career-related characteristics. Life satisfaction was measured using a 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale. PoM was measured using a 7-item Peace of Mind Scale. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models were estimated to explore potential associations between the two scales and the examined factors. Results A total of 1196 dentists (45.6% female; mean age = 44.12) completed the questionnaires. The response rate of completed questionnaires from email invitations was 32.9%. On multivariable analysis, life satisfaction and PoM were associated with age ( b  = 0.008 in both), better perceived health ( b  = 0.262 and 0.308, respectively), family interaction ( b  = 0.264 and 0.207, respectively), and friend relationships ( b  = 0.076 and 0.091, respectively). Being married ( b  = 0.191), being specialized ( b  = 0.127), working in private practice, and spending 10 to 39 h per week with patients ( b  = 0.101 to 0.162) were associated with a higher level of life satisfaction but not PoM. Conclusions Specialists working in private practice without working overtime were associated with better life satisfaction. However, the dentists’ health and relationships with family were more related to their subjective well-being than their professional achievements. Clinical relevance Our findings can help policymakers increase awareness of the well-being of general dentists and those in academia or hospitals to promote their mental health.