Over one-third of professionals in French ART centers experience job strain

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the level of strain experienced by professionals across 104 French assisted reproductive technology (ART) centers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024, using an online questionnaire based on Karasek’s and Siegrist’s models t...

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Main Authors: Lucie Delaroche, Fabienne Bazin, Nathalie Sermondade
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04299-4
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author Lucie Delaroche
Fabienne Bazin
Nathalie Sermondade
author_facet Lucie Delaroche
Fabienne Bazin
Nathalie Sermondade
author_sort Lucie Delaroche
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the level of strain experienced by professionals across 104 French assisted reproductive technology (ART) centers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024, using an online questionnaire based on Karasek’s and Siegrist’s models to assess psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, and the balance between efforts and rewards. Additional questions collected personal and professional details. Job strain was defined by high demands and low decision latitude, while iso-strain also included low social support. Effort-reward imbalance (ERI) referred to a situation where individuals experience high effort in their work but perceive the rewards as insufficient. The study included 464 participants (13% participation rate), comprising biologists (n = 124, 26.7%), gynecologists (n = 129, 27.8%), technicians (n = 107, 23.1%), secretaries (n = 51, 11.0%), midwives (n = 31, 6.7%), and other professions (n = 22, 4.7%). We found that 35.7% of professionals in French ART centers experienced job strain, with 20.9% in an iso-strain situation and 14.9% showing an imbalance between efforts and rewards. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant impact of occupational roles on job strain, with secretaries (OR 9.76 [3.70; 25.78]) and technicians (OR 8.62 [3.45; 21.53]) facing a higher risk compared to gynecologists. A strong correlation was found between perceived work stress or job satisfaction and the risk of job strain, iso-strain, and ERI. In conclusion, our study revealed that over a third of French ART professionals experienced job strain, a condition linked to increased risks of stress, burnout, and health concerns. Secretaries and technicians appeared particularly vulnerable, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Future research should aim to identify specific stressors and protective factors to help create tailored support programs that promote staff well-being.
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spelling doaj-art-53fe2fb5e2e6489f8cbae4229e7769df2025-08-20T02:05:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-04299-4Over one-third of professionals in French ART centers experience job strainLucie Delaroche0Fabienne Bazin1Nathalie Sermondade2Ramsay Santé, Hôpital Privé de Parly 2HorianaFédération Nationale des Biologistes des Laboratoires d’Étude de la Fécondation et de la Conservation de l’OEuf (BLEFCO)Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the level of strain experienced by professionals across 104 French assisted reproductive technology (ART) centers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024, using an online questionnaire based on Karasek’s and Siegrist’s models to assess psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, and the balance between efforts and rewards. Additional questions collected personal and professional details. Job strain was defined by high demands and low decision latitude, while iso-strain also included low social support. Effort-reward imbalance (ERI) referred to a situation where individuals experience high effort in their work but perceive the rewards as insufficient. The study included 464 participants (13% participation rate), comprising biologists (n = 124, 26.7%), gynecologists (n = 129, 27.8%), technicians (n = 107, 23.1%), secretaries (n = 51, 11.0%), midwives (n = 31, 6.7%), and other professions (n = 22, 4.7%). We found that 35.7% of professionals in French ART centers experienced job strain, with 20.9% in an iso-strain situation and 14.9% showing an imbalance between efforts and rewards. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant impact of occupational roles on job strain, with secretaries (OR 9.76 [3.70; 25.78]) and technicians (OR 8.62 [3.45; 21.53]) facing a higher risk compared to gynecologists. A strong correlation was found between perceived work stress or job satisfaction and the risk of job strain, iso-strain, and ERI. In conclusion, our study revealed that over a third of French ART professionals experienced job strain, a condition linked to increased risks of stress, burnout, and health concerns. Secretaries and technicians appeared particularly vulnerable, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Future research should aim to identify specific stressors and protective factors to help create tailored support programs that promote staff well-being.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04299-4Job strainStressPsychosocial careKarasekSiegristART centre
spellingShingle Lucie Delaroche
Fabienne Bazin
Nathalie Sermondade
Over one-third of professionals in French ART centers experience job strain
Scientific Reports
Job strain
Stress
Psychosocial care
Karasek
Siegrist
ART centre
title Over one-third of professionals in French ART centers experience job strain
title_full Over one-third of professionals in French ART centers experience job strain
title_fullStr Over one-third of professionals in French ART centers experience job strain
title_full_unstemmed Over one-third of professionals in French ART centers experience job strain
title_short Over one-third of professionals in French ART centers experience job strain
title_sort over one third of professionals in french art centers experience job strain
topic Job strain
Stress
Psychosocial care
Karasek
Siegrist
ART centre
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04299-4
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