Factors Associated with Life Satisfaction among Practicing Internists

The present study explored the relationship between satisfaction with life in general among 211 practicing internists and characteristics of their work, health, and life styles. Using a forced stepwise multiple regression analysis, 67% of the total variance in life satisfaction was accounted for by study variables. More satisfied physicians were more likely to be older, married, engaged in sexual intercourse more often, argued with or emotionally withdrew from family or friends less often, had fewer health problems, were less anxious and depressed, and experienced less job stress and more job satisfaction. Characteristics of the work setting, type of work activity (teaching, research, or patient care), number of patients seen, or hours worked per week were unrelated to satisfaction with life. The findings point to the importance of studying family life, mental health, and social relations in addition to work-related variables in order to understand and assess the quality of life among physicians.