| |
Many young vets are suffering from work-related distress and anxiety, according to a study in the Australian Veterinary Journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. Compared to the general population, young veterinarians experience a significantly higher level of general psychological distress, work-related anxiety and depression.
The study entitled “Psychological well-being of Australian Veterinarians” used established psychological scales to measure the levels of distress, anxiety and depression in veterinarians and compared these levels between different veterinary subgroups and other professions.
Out of the 2125 respondents who participated, at least one-third reported poor psychological health. The study also found that younger veterinarians are more likely to be psychologically affected than more experienced veterinarians.
“Anecdotally, veterinarians have a stressful job, dealing with sick animals, upset owners, and the challenges of managing a small business. We found that the average levels of distress were about the same as other professional groups such as doctors. However, about a third of the vets, especially new graduates, had quite high levels of stress, anxiety and depression”, said co-author Dr. Lin Fritschi from the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research.
Poor psychological health is common in the veterinary profession. The authors contend that professional bodies and veterinary schools could consider providing training in dealing with work-related distress to improve the psychological well-being of veterinarians and possibly reduce the attrition from the profession.
This paper is published in the March 2009 issue of Australian Veterinary Journal (Vol. 87, Issue 3, pg. 76-81).
Journalists wishing to receive a PDF or schedule media interviews with the authors should contact Alina Boey, Senior Manager Corporate Communications.
About Australian Veterinary Journal
The Australian Veterinary Journal is Australia's leading scientific publication in the field and provides an essential forum for the dissemination of leading edge veterinary research:
• ISI and MEDLINE listed;
• Online submissions at Manuscript Central;
• Publishing case reports, reviews, opinions, news, book reviews, letters to the Editor and more.
About Wiley
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (wiley.com) has been a valued source of information and understanding for 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Since 1901, Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 350 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry and Peace.
Our core businesses include scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade publishes books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and websites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia.
|
aboey[.]wiley.com 
