Work stress and gender-dependent coping strategies in anesthesiologists at a university hospital

Study Objective: To evaluate stressors and coping strategies for stress in a sample of anesthesiologists working at a university hospital. Design: Cross-sectional study via survey instrument. Setting: University department of anesthesiology and critical care at a 1305-bed hospital. Participants: 135 anesthesia specialists and specialist trainees of anesthesia. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 135 self-reporting questionnaires used to assess sociodemographic data, workload, task demands, stress-coping strategies, physical health, emotional well-being, and working conditions, were distributed. Of these, 89 questionnaires were completed and returned, for a response rate of 65.9%: 33 (37.1%) female anesthesiologists and 56 (62.9%) male anesthesiologists. The burden of task-related stressors and of communication possibilities was assessed differently by male and female anesthesiologists. Female anesthesiologists more frequently reported higher concentration demands (P = 0.013) and limited possibilities to control work (P = 0.009) than did their male colleagues. Work at intensive care units (P = 0.001) was particularly demanding and burdensome for female anesthesiologists. Combined evaluation of various stress-coping strategies did not show significant differences between the genders. Generally, anesthesiologists had more confidence in their own personal capabilities and resources and in their social-particularly family-support outside the workplace, than in their social support from colleagues and superiors. Conclusions: Task-related stressors and communication possibilities differed between male and female anesthesiologists in our institution. Female anesthesiologists felt that they had less control over their work. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.