Relationship Between Work Stress, Workload, and Quality of Life Among Rehabilitation Professionals

Background: This study explored the relationship between work stress, workload, and quality of life (QOL) among rehabilitation professionals. Methods: This study applied a cross-sectional design. A questionnaire was distributed to rehabilitation professionals—comprising physicians in the rehabilitation department, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists—working in teaching hospitals. A total of 152 valid responses were collected, yielding a valid response rate of 93.8%. Results: For female respondents, factors affecting the QOL were educational level, type of professional license, length of service, average leisure hours per week, expense on leisure per week, work stress, and workload (all p < .01). For male respondents, no factor reached statistical significance (p > .001). Conclusion: This study provides the following suggestions to hospital administrators: establishing a stress-relief helpline, evaluating employees' workload, regularly arranging stress management training courses, implementing employee health promotion programs, and promoting proactive strategies to improve employee physical and mental health.