Midwives’ occupational wellbeing and its determinants. A cross-sectional study among newly qualified and experienced Dutch midwives | 71 In other occupational groups, autonomy and social support are associated with high work engagement.5 In different occupations, personal resources such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, optimism and proactive behaviour are associated with high work engagement and relate negatively to burnout.16,22,23 The association of age and work experience with burnout symptoms highlights the need to study newly qualified midwives (NQMs) more intensively. Previous research on NQMs shows that the transition to practice causes stress and insecurity.24 NQMs must adapt themselves to a new role with new responsibilities.25 Furthermore, NQMs themselves felt competent but not confident in their first year in practice.26,27 Our previous qualitative studies among Dutch NQMs have also identified differences in job demands and resources between community-based and hospital-based midwives.28,29 Locum NQMs work long hours for different community practices, which they perceive as demanding.28 Working with clients in the community, autonomous working and the variety of work were perceived as job resources.29,30 Personal resources such as openness, flexibility and assertiveness helped them in their work, while perfectionism was perceived as hindering their work 28,29 Due to the specific context of midwifery care in the Netherlands (see box), previously identified determinants of burnout symptoms among midwives elsewhere are not applicable in the Dutch working context. As far as we know, no recent research has been conducted into the occupational wellbeing of Dutch midwives. There is a lack of knowledge about the levels of burnout symptoms and work engagement among Dutch midwives. We also do not know what job and personal demands and resources relate to midwives’ occupational wellbeing,28,29 nor whether work experience4,24 or working context24 are of any significance for midwives’ occupational wellbeing. The aim of this study is therefore to examine the occurrence of burnout symptoms and work engagement among Dutch midwives with different amounts of working experience and to assess the contributions of relevant job demands, job resources and personal resources to both burnout symptoms and work engagement. Research questions: 1. What is the percentage of burnout symptoms and high work engagement among Dutch midwives and do these differ between newly qualified midwives and experienced midwives (EMs)?
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