The job satisfaction of physician assistants: A causal analysis

The general level of job satisfaction and the influences upon satisfaction have been determined for a nationwide sample of physician assistants. Physician assistants express an overall level of job satisfaction which compares favorably to that reported for other professionals. Indirect measures of job satisfaction (career satisfaction and anticipated job turnover) are quite favorable as well. The major determinants of job satisfaction appear to be the professional and personal support provided by one's supervising physician, amount of responsibility for patient care, opportunities for career advancement, and location in smaller communities. In addition, we find that job characteristics mediate a number of effects of personal background and work environment variables upon job satisfaction. These findings have been obtained by means of path analysis of a multivariate causal model of job satisfaction.