Author/Editor     Selič, Polona; Petek, Davorina; Pesjak, Katja
Title     Healthy, but are they satisfied? Factors associated with job satisfaction in professional soldiers of the Slovenian armed forces
Type     članek
Source     Journal of Defense Management
Vol. and No.     Letnik 2, št. 2
Publication year     2012
Volume     str. 1-8
Language     eng
Abstract     Aim: To identify factors associated with job satisfaction in professional soldiers of the Slovenian Armed Forces using demographic characteristics, burnout, personality traits, and health and working environment characteristics. Method: 361 military personnel (317 male (87.8%), 44 female (12.2%)) participated in a cross-sectional study (80.6% response rate). Sample data was presented by frequency and percentage distribution for categorical variables, or by mean value and standard deviation for continuous variables. The Pearson correlation coefficient, the independent sample t-test and the one-way ANOVA were used for the univariate statistical comparison. Variables significantly related to job satisfaction were included in the multivariate linear regression. The linear model calculation included coefficient B, 95% confidence interval for B, Beta coefficient, and P value. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS 15.0 software. P value < 0.05 was marked as statistically significant. Results: Emotional exhaustion negatively affected satisfaction with work (beta=-0.20; p<0.05), supervision (beta=-0.15; p<0.05), salary (beta=-0.22; p<0.05) and promotion prospects (beta=-0.15; p<0.05). Satisfaction with co-workers mostly showed different associations; there was a negative association between satisfaction with co-workers and female gender (beta=-0.16; p<0.05) and depersonalization (beta=-0.25; p<0.05) and positive association between satisfaction with co-workers and achieving additional training (beta=0.11; p<0.05) and number of divorces (beta=0.12; p<0.05). Most variation was associated with the organizational characteristics; individual traits and health were not proven to have an impact. Conclusion: Emotional exhaustion, but not physical health or its assessment, is a good predictor of poor overall job satisfaction and most of its components.