Job satisfaction, subjective class identification and associated factors of professional socialization in korean physicians

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the core properties of professional socialization and social status satisfaction, economic reward satisfaction, and subjective class identification. Methods: Medical knowledge and skill, autonomy, and professional value factors were used as essential properties of professional socialization to determine the association with job satisfaction and subjective class identification. The authors used a self-administered questionnaire survey and collected nationwide data between July and August 2003, with 211 responses used for final analysis. Results: 'Age' and 'trust and respect' were positively associated with social status satisfaction, and 'occupation'was negatively associated. 'Income' and 'trust and respect' were positively related to economic reward satisfaction, and 'practicing for oneself', and 'a sense of duty and attendance' were negatively related. 'Practicing for oneself', 'not believing explanations', and 'a sense of duty and attendance' had a positive relationship with subjective class identification. 'Income', 'knowledge system', 'medical mistakes', 'treating like goods', 'meaning and joy', and 'trust and respect' had a negative relationship. Conclusions: The core property variables of professional socialization had a different relationship with social status satisfaction, economic reward satisfaction and subjective class identification. In particular, many core property variables were associated with subjective class identification positively or negatively. The development of professional socialization would help promote job satisfaction and subjective class identification.