Effects of Organizational Support and Professional Identity on Job Satisfaction Among Medical Social Workers in China

Abstract

The current status of job satisfaction among Chinese medical social workers and the impact of organizational support and professional identity on job satisfaction among Chinese medical social workers were investigated in the context of the Healthy China Initiative. This article used quantitative research methods, and the data were drawn from the China Social Work Longitudinal Study (CSWLS). The article’s sample comprises 218 medical social workers who participated in a medical social work module survey and who are directly engaged in social service practices in hospitals in China. The results showed that the job satisfaction score of Chinese medical social workers was 3.58, which was considered good. Professional identity can significantly and positively predict and impact job satisfaction, and as a dimension of professional identity, professional enthusiasm has a significant impact on job satisfaction. Organizational cultural support significantly affects job satisfaction and organizational support mediates this relationship between professional identity and job satisfaction among medical social workers. Together, these findings suggest that organizational support and professional identity significantly impact the job satisfaction of medical social workers in China. Future studies should aim to promote professional enthusiasm and enhance organizational culture support to improve job satisfaction among medical social workers.

Keywords:

• Medical social workers
• organizational support
• professional identity
• job satisfaction
• organizational culture

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the National Social Science Foundation in China (19BSH161) and 2023 Guangdong Province Graduate Education Innovation Plan Project (2023ANLK_065).

Notes on contributors

Yanmei Wang

Yanmei Wang is a master’s student at the School of Government, Shenzhen University, China. Her research field involves medical social work and social service research.

Yong Tang

Yong Tang is a professor at the School of Government, Shenzhen University, China. Her research area is social work.