1651 - UNITED IN CARE: UNMASKING STRESSORS AND COPING STRATEGIES ACROSS VETERINARY SPECIALTIES

Session: D01S008 - Workplace Well-Being & Mental Health 8
AUTHORS:
Stetina Birgit Ursula (Faculty of Psychology Sigmund Feud University Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Soukup Katharina (Faculty of Psychology Sigmund Feud University Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Aden Jan (Faculty of Psychology Sigmund Feud University Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Klaps Armin (Faculty of Psychology Sigmund Feud University Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Kovacovsky Zuzana (Psychological Outpatient Clinic, Sigmund Freud University Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Hametner Katharina (Faculty of Psychology Sigmund Feud University Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria) , Smetaczek Christine (Psychological Outpatient Clinic, Sigmund Freud University Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria)
Abstract text:
Introduction: Veterinarians experience a unique set of stressors that can be grouped into a bio-psycho-social model of the veterinary job reality and several severe mental health consequences, such as depression and suicidal risk (Stetina & Krouzecky, 2022). However, there are still not a lot of findings, how veterinarians in different fields of veterinary experience their specific stressors and their coping strategies.


Purpose: The study aims to systematically examine coping strategies and stressors across the veterinary profession in Austria analyzing different fields of veterinary medicine; to develop specific treatment approaches for better support.


Methodology: Using a cross-sectional design in cooperation with the Austrian Veterinary Chamber online questionnaires are sent out yearly to Austrian veterinarians on a voluntary basis. The presented analysis includes demographic data, work-related details, a coping strategy inventory (SVF-120) and open-ended questions with regards to subjective stressors. Data from March 2019 (n=339), September 2021 (n=332), March 2022 (n=191), and June 2023 (n=230), were used.


Results: Several specific fields exist in veterinary medicine; the presented analysis focused on small and large animal practice and official veterinarians. In general, all veterinary fields differ significantly from the general population in all coping scales. However, the differences between the fields are significant as well and show that small animal veterinarians reported the highest use of negative maladaptive coping strategies (eg Avoidance: F(2,549)=5.086,p=.06,η2=.18)) and official veterinarians report the lowest use of positive coping strategies (eg Minimization: F(2,549)=8.337,p<.001,η2=.30)).


Conclusion: The results highlight the need to address the well-being crisis in the veterinary profession and that the different fields differ significantly, yet closer similarities to each other than to the general population. The findings highlight the necessity for tailored interventions specific to each veterinary field.