Relationship between Happiness and Job Satisfaction of Dental Hygienists / 치위생과학회지

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to provide basic data on the relationship between the happiness and job satisfaction of dental hygienists. The research subjects were 264 dental hygienists in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do. The study was conducted using structured questionnaires and the collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software, ver. 20.0. The happiness index, which was based on general characteristics, showed the greatest significant differences in life satisfaction (p<0.05) among adults over 36 years of job experience, negative emotions (p<0.01) among adults under 25 years of job experience, and negative emotions (p<0.05) among adults with 4~10 years of job experience. The factors that improved the job satisfaction of dental hygienists were life satisfaction, prime duty at the work place, and a positive effect. On the contrary, negative emotions lowered the job satisfaction. The happiness of the dental hygienist is an important factor not only for the improvement of the hygienist's personal quality of life, but also the patient's health. It is necessary for dental hygienists to maintain good relationships with coworkers during in the workplace, as well as employers, to have an administrative system that offers proper compensation, improvement of the work environment, and opportunities to improve professionalism at the workplace.