Female and male occupational therapists: a comparison of their job satisfaction level

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the level of job satisfaction of a group of Queensland female and male occupational therapists.

Methods: A demographic questionnaire and the Job Descriptive Index were mailed to all male occupational therapists (n = 65) and selected female occupational therapists (n = 130) who were matched to the male therapists' based on their residential address and year of graduation.

Results: The survey results indicated that female and male occupational therapists were both very satisfied with four aspects of their job: work on the job, supervision, co-workers, and the job in general. Female and male respondents were also on average 'moderately satisfied' with the scale of pay. However, female therapists were significantly (P < 0.05) more dissatisfied with regard to opportunities for promotion. Potential future high attrition of both male and female occupational therapists was highlighted, with 60 per cent of the sample group indicating that they would leave the profession within 10 years.

Conclusion: The job satisfaction findings of this study will assist the occupational therapy profession to build on positive outcomes, address problem areas, and improve retention rates.