This study set out to investigate relationships between dental professionals’ job and socialpsychological stress and provide basic data for addressing the stress causes and setting up management plans by statistically analyzing 201 self-administered questionnaires filled out by dental professionals in an area with the SPSS 12.0 program. The questionnaire contained total 23 items about their stress, which were measured on a 4-point scale. Conclusions drawn from this study as follows.
1. As a result, the subjects recorded total 2.35 points, which suggests that the dental workers were under “average” or higher stress. The dental workers stress was analyzed by the items.
According to the results, their stress level was the highest in “when receiving unfair treatments from dentists”(2.81) and high in “when having conflicts with dentists”(2.72). As for their job stress according to their general characteristics, the educational level was the highest among those who graduated from a junior college(2.44), which was followed by high school(2.19)
and college(2.25) with statistical significance between them(p=0.002). As for positions, dental hygienists were the most(2.43), being followed by chief dental hygienists(2.29) and dental assistants(2.26) with near statistical significance(p=0.054).
2. The subjects’ mean points in social-psychological stress were 20.76. Among 202 subjects, 51(25.5%) dental hygienists scored 27 PWI points or more and thus fell into a high risk group of social-psychological stress; 134(67.0%) into a potential stress group; and 15(7.5%) scored 7 points or less. Thus most of them were in a potential or risky level in social-psychological stress.
3. Their social-psychological stress was then examined according to general characteristics. As for location of work, the high risk groups decreased from clinics to hospitals(p=0.043); as for position, the high risk groups decreased from lower to higher positions(p=0.015); and as for career, the high risk groups decreased with years of service(p=0.017).
4. It was also investigated if there would be correlations between job and social-psychological stress factors. The results show no statistical significance(p=0.076). When the job stress level was low, they scored average 19.05 points in the social-psychological stress factors. When the job stress level was high, they scored average 21.57 points in social-psychological stress.
The group of high job stress also had high social-psychological stress. In conclusion, job stress affects social-psychological stress.
Considering the result, proper prevention and management of job stress will not only guarantee mental and physical well-being for dental professionals, but also help dental clinics and hospitals improve in productivity, efficiency, and quality.
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