Cognitive and Emotional Irritation in German Veterinarians with Different Levels of Overcommitment
Background: veterinary medicine is among the most stressful professions and is characterized by long working hours and high emotional demands. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between overcommitment and psychological stress (on the basis of irritation) among veterinar...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/4/361 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850180604873670656 |
|---|---|
| author | Irina Böckelmann Emilia Döring Robert Pohl Beatrice Thielmann |
| author_facet | Irina Böckelmann Emilia Döring Robert Pohl Beatrice Thielmann |
| author_sort | Irina Böckelmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: veterinary medicine is among the most stressful professions and is characterized by long working hours and high emotional demands. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between overcommitment and psychological stress (on the basis of irritation) among veterinarians in Germany, with a particular focus on age differences. Methods: the analysis included a sample of 995 veterinarians divided into three age groups: <35 years, 35–45 years and >45 years. Sociodemographic and job-related data as well as the overcommitment scale (OC, subscale of the Effort–Reward–Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire), and the irritation scale (IS), were both collected. Results: the results reveal that younger (vs. older) veterinarians are significantly more likely to have high overcommitment levels. This group also reported higher-than-average levels of cognitive and emotional irritation, whereas the oldest age group reported comparatively lower overcommitment levels. Age and years of work were negatively correlated with overcommitment, and overcommitment was strongly positively correlated with cognitive and emotional irritation. Conclusions: this study highlights the need for preventative measures to reduce overcommitment and mental stress, particularly among young veterinarians. Interventions during veterinarian studies and in the workplace that promote excessive expectations and stress are crucial to ensure long-term mental health and job satisfaction among this professional group. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd18501086f34b28bca083615e8e336f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd18501086f34b28bca083615e8e336f2025-08-20T02:18:05ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-04-0112436110.3390/vetsci12040361Cognitive and Emotional Irritation in German Veterinarians with Different Levels of OvercommitmentIrina Böckelmann0Emilia Döring1Robert Pohl2Beatrice Thielmann3Institute of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, GermanyInstitute of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, GermanyInstitute of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, GermanyInstitute of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, GermanyBackground: veterinary medicine is among the most stressful professions and is characterized by long working hours and high emotional demands. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between overcommitment and psychological stress (on the basis of irritation) among veterinarians in Germany, with a particular focus on age differences. Methods: the analysis included a sample of 995 veterinarians divided into three age groups: <35 years, 35–45 years and >45 years. Sociodemographic and job-related data as well as the overcommitment scale (OC, subscale of the Effort–Reward–Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire), and the irritation scale (IS), were both collected. Results: the results reveal that younger (vs. older) veterinarians are significantly more likely to have high overcommitment levels. This group also reported higher-than-average levels of cognitive and emotional irritation, whereas the oldest age group reported comparatively lower overcommitment levels. Age and years of work were negatively correlated with overcommitment, and overcommitment was strongly positively correlated with cognitive and emotional irritation. Conclusions: this study highlights the need for preventative measures to reduce overcommitment and mental stress, particularly among young veterinarians. Interventions during veterinarian studies and in the workplace that promote excessive expectations and stress are crucial to ensure long-term mental health and job satisfaction among this professional group.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/4/361veterinarianswork engagementpsychological stressirritationworkloadhealth promotion |
| spellingShingle | Irina Böckelmann Emilia Döring Robert Pohl Beatrice Thielmann Cognitive and Emotional Irritation in German Veterinarians with Different Levels of Overcommitment Veterinary Sciences veterinarians work engagement psychological stress irritation workload health promotion |
| title | Cognitive and Emotional Irritation in German Veterinarians with Different Levels of Overcommitment |
| title_full | Cognitive and Emotional Irritation in German Veterinarians with Different Levels of Overcommitment |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive and Emotional Irritation in German Veterinarians with Different Levels of Overcommitment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive and Emotional Irritation in German Veterinarians with Different Levels of Overcommitment |
| title_short | Cognitive and Emotional Irritation in German Veterinarians with Different Levels of Overcommitment |
| title_sort | cognitive and emotional irritation in german veterinarians with different levels of overcommitment |
| topic | veterinarians work engagement psychological stress irritation workload health promotion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/4/361 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT irinabockelmann cognitiveandemotionalirritationingermanveterinarianswithdifferentlevelsofovercommitment AT emiliadoring cognitiveandemotionalirritationingermanveterinarianswithdifferentlevelsofovercommitment AT robertpohl cognitiveandemotionalirritationingermanveterinarianswithdifferentlevelsofovercommitment AT beatricethielmann cognitiveandemotionalirritationingermanveterinarianswithdifferentlevelsofovercommitment |