Work-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being of Speech and Language Therapists in Ireland

IF 2.1 3区医学 Q2 AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders Pub Date : 2025-07-25 DOI:10.1111/1460-6984.70090

Victoria Hogan, Mary Pat O'Malley, Michael Hogan, Margaret Hodgins

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Abstract

Background

Few studies have examined well-being among speech and language therapists (SLTs), and no study to date has examined quality of working life. Research is also needed to better understand how individual and organisational factors influence quality of working life and well-being of SLTs.

Aims

The aims of this study were to characterise quality of working life and well-being in Irish SLTs and determine the impact of individual and organisational factors on quality of working life and well-being.

Methods

SLTs in Ireland (N = 105) completed a cross-sectional, electronic survey in the summer of 2022 which included measures of work-related quality of life, organisational constraints, well-being, workload and turnover intentions.

Results

Well-being and quality of work-life scores were lower than published norms. Higher workload and higher organisational constraints were both related to lower quality of working life, F(4, 104) = 21.904, p < 0.001, and higher organisational constraints were related to lower well-being, F(1,103) = 20.269, p < 0.001. Lower quality of working life in turn predicted higher turnover intention, F(1,103) = 31.502, p < 0.0005.

Conclusions and Implications

The results indicate the importance of organisational constraints in relation to both quality of work life and well-being of Irish SLTs. Workload is also an important factor related to quality of work life. Lower quality of working life is a problem for the SLT profession as it relates to higher turnover intention. This study demonstrates the importance of exploring the work experience of SLTs and highlights working conditions that may lower quality of working life and result in SLTs leaving the sector.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on this subject

Although QoWL has been widely examined in the healthcare sector, there has been very little examination of the QoWL of SLTs. Similarly, few studies have been conducted examining the well-being of SLTs.

What this study adds to the existing knowledge

This is the first study to examine QoWL and well-being in Irish SLTs. QoWL and well-being levels are low when compared to normative data in healthcare workers. Higher organisational constraints and higher workloads were related to lower QoWL, and higher organisational constraints were also related to lower well-being. Lower QoWL in turn was related to higher turnover intentions.

What are the actual and clinical implications of this work?

QoWL and well-being for Irish SLTs are lower than expected and compare unfavourably with other healthcare professionals. Constraints faced by SLTs in their day-to-day work must be examined in order to alleviate the potential for stress and poor well-being. Workload in particular will require resourcing in order to improve QoWL.

Abstract Image

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与工作相关的生活质量和爱尔兰言语和语言治疗师的福祉

背景很少有研究考察语言治疗师（slt）的幸福感，迄今为止也没有研究考察工作生活的质量。还需要进行研究，以更好地了解个人和组织因素如何影响slt的工作生活质量和福祉。本研究的目的是描述爱尔兰slt的工作生活质量和幸福感，并确定个人和组织因素对工作生活质量和幸福感的影响。爱尔兰的slt （N = 105）在2022年夏天完成了一项横断面电子调查，调查内容包括与工作相关的生活质量、组织约束、幸福感、工作量和离职意向。结果幸福感和工作生活质量得分低于公布的标准。较高的工作量和较高的组织约束都与较低的工作生活质量相关，F(4,104) = 21.904, p <；0.001，较高的组织约束与较低的幸福感相关，F(1,103) = 20.269, p <；0.001. 工作生活质量越低，离职倾向越高，F(1,103) = 31.502, p <；0.0005. 结论和启示研究结果表明，组织约束对爱尔兰slt工作生活质量和幸福感的重要性。工作量也是关系到工作生活质量的一个重要因素。较低的工作生活质量是SLT职业的一个问题，因为它与较高的离职意愿有关。这项研究证明了探索特殊服务人员工作经验的重要性，并强调了可能降低工作生活质量并导致特殊服务人员离开该部门的工作条件。虽然QoWL在医疗保健领域得到了广泛的研究，但对slt的QoWL的研究却很少。同样，很少有研究对slt的健康状况进行调查。这项研究为现有知识增加了什么？这是第一个研究爱尔兰slt的QoWL和幸福感的研究。与卫生保健工作者的规范数据相比，QoWL和幸福水平较低。较高的组织约束和较高的工作量与较低的QoWL相关，较高的组织约束也与较低的幸福感相关。较低的QoWL与较高的离职意向相关。这项工作的实际和临床意义是什么？爱尔兰slt的QoWL和幸福感低于预期，与其他医疗保健专业人员相比处于不利地位。必须审查特殊服务人员在日常工作中面临的限制，以减轻潜在的压力和不良福利。工作负载尤其需要资源来改善QoWL。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY-REHABILITATION

CiteScore

3.30

自引率

12.50%

发文量

116

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders (IJLCD) is the official journal of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists. The Journal welcomes submissions on all aspects of speech, language, communication disorders and speech and language therapy. It provides a forum for the exchange of information and discussion of issues of clinical or theoretical relevance in the above areas.