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Medical laboratory technicians’ job satisfaction in Generations X, Y, and Z: Findings from an online survey in Austria / Arbeitszufriedenheit österreichischer biomedizinischer Analytiker*innen in den Generationen X, Y und Z: Ergebnisse einer Online-Umfrage aus Österreich Cover

Medical laboratory technicians’ job satisfaction in Generations X, Y, and Z: Findings from an online survey in Austria / Arbeitszufriedenheit österreichischer biomedizinischer Analytiker*innen in den Generationen X, Y und Z: Ergebnisse einer Online-Umfrage aus Österreich

By: Diana Schmidt and  Markus Latzke  
Open Access
|Dec 2023

Figures & Tables

Aspects of job satisfaction in Gen X (n = 110), Gen Y (n = 170), and Gen Z (n = 91) MLTs_

Gen X (mean, sd)Gen Y (mean, sd)Gen Z (mean, sd)Degrees of freedom (between, within)Fpω2Effect of size interpretation
Overall job satisfaction4.88 (1.63)4.66 (1.65)5.32 (1.55)2, 3684.899.008.02small
Autonomy4.03 (1.87)4.27 (1.76)4.74 (1.75)2, 3683.983.019.02small
Recognition4.14 (2.06)3.99 (1.93)4.34 (1.96)2, 368.949.388.00negligible
Mentoring and peer support4.25 (2.11)4.18 (1.87)4.93 (1.84)2, 3684.875.008.02small
Working times satisfaction5.50 (1.54)5.45 (1.61)5.53 (1.58)2, 368.073.930.00negligible
Stress5.17 (1.64)5.02 (1.63)4.51 (1.64)2, 3684.530.011.02small
Income – realization5.14 (1.52)4.71 (1.58)5.49 (1.45)2, 3688.278<.001.04small
Work-life balance – realization4.31 (1.66)4.55 (1.74)5.00 (1.67)2, 3684.197.016.02small
Positive impact – realization5.31 (1.76)5.30 (1.52)5.66 (1.39)2, 3681.771.172.00negligible
Positive relationships realization5.10 (1.52)5.25 (1.28)5.43 (1.49)2, 3681.346.261.00negligible
Learning and development – realization4.31 (1.75)4.11 (1.85)4.32 (1.66)2, 3680.629.534.00negligible
Supervisors - realization4.22 (1.97)4.24 (1.89)4.63 (2.03)2, 3681.432.240.01small

Gap between importance and realization in aspects of career success (Mayrhofer et al_, 2016)_

Importance (median, IQR)Realization (median, IQR)zprEffect size interpretation
Gen X (n = 110)
Relationships7 (6.7)5 (4.6)−6.78<.001−0.46medium
Learning and development7 (6.7)4 (3.6)−6.98<.001−0.47medium
Work-life balance7 (6.7)4.5 (3.6)−7.68<.001−0.52large
Income7 (6.7)5.5 (4.6)−5.82<.001−0.39medium
Meaningful contribution7 (6.7)6 (4.7)−6.01<.001−0.41medium
Supervisors7 (6.7)4 (2.6)−7.42<.001−0.50large
Gen Y (n = 169)
Relationships7 (6.7)5 (5.6)−8.88<.001−0.48medium
Learning and development7 (6.7)4 (3.6)−9.85<.001−0.54large
Work-life balance7 (7.7)5 (3.6)−9.59<.001−0.52large
Income7 (6.7)5 (4.6)−9.96<.001−0.54large
Meaningful contribution7 (6.7)6 (4.7)−7.50<.001−0.41medium
Supervisors7 (6.7)4 (2.75.6)−9.78<.001−0.53large
Gen Z (n = 91)
Relationships7 (6.7)6 (5.7)−5.76<.001−0.43medium
Learning and development7 (5.7)4 (3.5)−7.05<.001−0.52large
Work-life balance7 (7.7)5 (4.6)−6.53<.001−0.48medium
Income7 (6.7)6 (5.7)−4.96<.001−0.37medium
Meaningful contribution7 (6.7)6 (5.7)−2.81.005−0.21medium
Supervisors7 (6.7)5 (3.6)−5.91<.001−0.44medium

Predictors of overall job satisfaction in MLTs_

bSE bßEffect size interpretationVIFp
Gen X (n = 110, R2 = .69, p < .001, Durbin-Watson: 2.02)
Constant−0.200.41 .961
Recognition0.380.06.48medium2.06<.001
Relationships – realization0.320.68.30medium1.47<.001
Working times satisfaction0.190.06.18small1.21.003
Work Life Balance – realization0.170.07.18small1.27.014
Supervisor – realization−0.130.59−.16small1.84.034
Learning and development – realization0.110.06.12small1.47.073
Gen Y (n = 169, Corr. R2 = .57, p < .001, Durbin-Watson: 1.80)
Constant0.490.41 .906
Recognition0.330.06.39medium1.86<.001
Relationships - realization0.240.08.18small1.40.002
Autonomy0.170.06.18small1.58.005
Work-life balance – realization0.150.06.17small1.37.009
Meaningful contribution – realization0.110.06.11small1.26.066
Gen Z (n = 91, Corr. R2 = .60, p < .001, Durbin-Watson: 1.95)
Constant1.250.66 .061
Recognition0.360.08.45medium2.43<.001
Working times satisfaction0.250.07.25small1.18<.001
Autonomy0.190.07.21small1.52.012
Relationships – realization0.210.09.20small1.54.016
Income – realization−.160.09−.15small1.42.069

Characteristics and workplaces of the samples of Gen X (n = 110), Gen Y (n = 170) and Gen Z (n = 91) MLTs_

Gen XGen YGen ZTotal
Characteristics
Female, n (%)102 of 110 (92.7%)159 of 170 (93.5%)88 of 91 (96.7%)349 of 371 (94.1%)
Having children, n (%)90 of 110 (81.8%)58 of 170 (34.1%)1 of 90 (1.1%)149 of 371 (40.2%)
Weekly working hours, mean (SD)33.9 (7.39)34.63 (8.13)36.46 (7.31)34.87 (7.76)
Workplaces: institution (multiple assignments possible)
Public hospital n (%)80 of 110 (72.7%)111 of 170 (65.3%)63 of 91 (69.2%)254 of 371 (68.5%)
University n (%)17 of 110 (15.5%)21 of 170 (12.4%)9 of 91 (9.9%)47 of 371 (12.7%)
Private laboratory n (%)6 of 110 (5.5%)23 of 170 (13.5%)16 of 91 (7.6%)45 of 371 (12.1%)
Private hospital n (%)5 of 110 (4.5%)10 of 170 (5.9%)2 of 91 (2.2%)17 of 371 (4.6%)
Research institute n (%)4 of 110 (3.6%)0 of 170 (0%)4 of 91 (4.4%)8 of 371 (2.2%)
Workplaces: department (multiple assignments possible)
Central laboratory n (%)36 of 110 (32.7%)50 of 170 (29.4%)27 of 91 (29.7%)113 of 371 (30.5%)
Haematology n (%)29 of 110 (26.4%)27 of 170 (15.9%)28 of 91 (30.8%)84 of 371 (22.6%)
Immunohematology n (%)23 of 110 (20.9%)32 of 170 (18.8%)16 of 91 (17.6%)71 of 371(19.1%)
Molecular biology n (%)8 of 110 (7.3%)31 of 170 (18.2%)19 of 91 (20.9%)58 of 371 (15.6%)
Immunology n (%)16 of 110 (14.5%)17 of 170 (10%)14 of 91 (15.4%)47 of 371 (12.7%)
Functional diagnostics (cardiology, neurology, pneumology) n (%)18 of 110 (16.4%)11 of 170 (6.5%)11 of 91 (12.1%)40 of 371 (10.8%)
Microbiology n (%)7 of 110 (6.4%)20 of 170 (11.8%)14 of 91 (15.4%)41 of 371 (11.1%)
Histology n (%)8 of 110 (7.3%)17 of 170 (10%)9 of 91 (9.9%)34 of 371 (9.2%)
Language: English, German
Page range: 93 - 102
Submitted on: Sep 13, 2023
Accepted on: Nov 9, 2023
Published on: Dec 28, 2023
Published by: ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2023 Diana Schmidt, Markus Latzke, published by ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.