Perceived stress, mental health, and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sector

Background: Lawyers are exposed to a multitude of stressors; hence, a high proportion of them experience mental health issues and dissatisfaction with their jobs. However, no data compare these parameters in private and public sector lawyers from India. Aim: To compare mental health status, perceive...

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Main Authors: Nidhi Malhotra, Shikha Tyagi, Ekram Goyal, Gurmeet Kaur, Jagtar Singh, Suprakash Chaudhury
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Industrial Psychiatry Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipj.ipj_496_24
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author Nidhi Malhotra
Shikha Tyagi
Ekram Goyal
Gurmeet Kaur
Jagtar Singh
Suprakash Chaudhury
author_facet Nidhi Malhotra
Shikha Tyagi
Ekram Goyal
Gurmeet Kaur
Jagtar Singh
Suprakash Chaudhury
author_sort Nidhi Malhotra
collection DOAJ
description Background: Lawyers are exposed to a multitude of stressors; hence, a high proportion of them experience mental health issues and dissatisfaction with their jobs. However, no data compare these parameters in private and public sector lawyers from India. Aim: To compare mental health status, perceived stress, and job satisfaction in public versus private sector lawyers. Materials and Methods: Thity participants, each from lawyers working in the public and private sectors in Chandigarh, were recruited and administered a sociodemographic scale, General Health Questionnaire 12, Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale, and Generic Job Satisfaction Scale. Results: 73% and 60% of participants scored more than two on GHQ in the public and private sector groups, respectively. A significantly higher (90%) proportion of lawyers working in the public sector experienced high levels of stress when compared with lawyers working in the private sector (63%). A negative correlation between stress levels and job satisfaction was observed in both groups. Conclusion: Lawyers experience high levels of stress and mental health issues, with stress being more prevalent in public sector lawyers. There is a negative correlation between stress levels and job satisfaction in private and public sector lawyers.
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series Industrial Psychiatry Journal
spelling doaj-art-67d70cbcb1be4bfdb28efeb2d984ef1d2025-08-20T03:40:58ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndustrial Psychiatry Journal0972-67480976-27952025-05-0134217918310.4103/ipj.ipj_496_24Perceived stress, mental health, and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sectorNidhi MalhotraShikha TyagiEkram GoyalGurmeet KaurJagtar SinghSuprakash ChaudhuryBackground: Lawyers are exposed to a multitude of stressors; hence, a high proportion of them experience mental health issues and dissatisfaction with their jobs. However, no data compare these parameters in private and public sector lawyers from India. Aim: To compare mental health status, perceived stress, and job satisfaction in public versus private sector lawyers. Materials and Methods: Thity participants, each from lawyers working in the public and private sectors in Chandigarh, were recruited and administered a sociodemographic scale, General Health Questionnaire 12, Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale, and Generic Job Satisfaction Scale. Results: 73% and 60% of participants scored more than two on GHQ in the public and private sector groups, respectively. A significantly higher (90%) proportion of lawyers working in the public sector experienced high levels of stress when compared with lawyers working in the private sector (63%). A negative correlation between stress levels and job satisfaction was observed in both groups. Conclusion: Lawyers experience high levels of stress and mental health issues, with stress being more prevalent in public sector lawyers. There is a negative correlation between stress levels and job satisfaction in private and public sector lawyers.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipj.ipj_496_24job satisfactionlawyersmental healthstress
spellingShingle Nidhi Malhotra
Shikha Tyagi
Ekram Goyal
Gurmeet Kaur
Jagtar Singh
Suprakash Chaudhury
Perceived stress, mental health, and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sector
Industrial Psychiatry Journal
job satisfaction
lawyers
mental health
stress
title Perceived stress, mental health, and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sector
title_full Perceived stress, mental health, and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sector
title_fullStr Perceived stress, mental health, and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sector
title_full_unstemmed Perceived stress, mental health, and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sector
title_short Perceived stress, mental health, and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sector
title_sort perceived stress mental health and job satisfaction among lawyers working in public versus private sector
topic job satisfaction
lawyers
mental health
stress
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipj.ipj_496_24
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