The dissertation presented a review of the relevant literature on stress and stressful working life of emergency physicians and satisfaction in partner relationships. The theoretical introduction addressed key concepts such as partner and social support, conflict, the importance of psychotherapy and psychosocial support, and spirituality. The empirical part consisted of qualitative (phenomenological interviews with eleven emergency medicine specialists) and quantitative research (survey with forty-five emergency medicine specialists).
In the first, qualitative part of the research, three basic research questions were asked and answered through phenomenological interviews. It was found that emergency physicians experience the intensity of workplace stress differently from individual to individual, but all stress its constant presence. The main stressors in the workplace appeared to be instability resulting from dynamic, shift-based work schedules and demanding interventions. The dynamics of the work itself, the systemic organisation of healthcare and mentally stressful patients are also frequent sources of stress. Mutual conversation is an important mechanism of relief among emergency physicians. Relief conversations with colleagues are thus proving to be a key strategy for regulating stress after difficult interventions. Psychosocial support and supervision are areas that are still largely underdeveloped among emergency physicians, which further emphasises the importance of team cohesion and support. The survey participants reported a difficult work-life balance, so the important role of emergency physicians' partners, in addition to colleagues, is not surprising. They highlighted their partner's commitment to the family and the time they devote to caring for home and family. Partner relationships are strengthened by a lighter conversation, and a sense of mutual support and trust is an important aspect of the partner relationship and connectedness.
In the second, quantitative part of the study, eight hypotheses were tested. The quantitative analysis included four questionnaires measuring workplace stress, marital conflict, satisfaction in the partner relationship and emotional regulation. The relationship between job stress of emergency physicians and satisfaction in partner relationship was examined, and no statistically significant relationship was found between these constructs. The second hypothesis, which examined the association between different dimensions of workplace stress (quantitative strain, mental demandingness, inadequacy of work, poor internal relationships, lack of control over work) and marital conflict, also failed to show a strong statistically significant association. The third hypothesis, which hypothesised a link between the level of stress at work and emotional regulation, was not confirmed as no statistically significant associations were found. The fourth hypothesis examined differences in the experience of workplace stress between female and male emergency physicians; no statistically significant differences were found in the overall response to stress by gender, although women reported a slightly higher overall rating of workplace stress. The next three hypotheses (fifth, sixth and seventh) concerning the relationship between age and seniority of emergency physicians and the experience of stress and partner relationship satisfaction were rejected as no statistically significant differences were found, with the exception of the construct of physical strain, where physicians with longer seniority reported higher physical strain. The last, eighth hypothesis was confirmed, as a statistically significant positive correlation was found between perceived social and emotional unsupportiveness of colleagues and supervisors and the different dimensions of workplace stress.
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