Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Across Professions: A Comparative Study of Physicians, Engineers, and Teachers in Light of Demographic and Occupational Variables
Authors: Haggag Abdelmotaleb Abdelkader 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: Fatigue in the workplace is a critical issue that affects productivity, well-being, and overall job satisfaction. It manifests in various dimensions, including behavioral, emotional, physical, general, and cognitive fatigue. The Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory (MFSI) is a comprehensive tool used to assess these different facets of fatigue. Understanding how different professions and personal factors influence fatigue levels can help in devising targeted interventions and improving occupational health practices. Previous research indicates that job demands, work environment, and personal characteristics play significant roles in influencing fatigue. For instance, engineers, often facing high-pressure deadlines and complex problem-solving tasks, might experience elevated levels of fatigue compared to other professions like physicians or teachers. Age and experience have been shown to impact fatigue levels, with older individuals and those with more experience generally reporting lower fatigue due to better coping mechanisms. Conversely, longer work hours have been consistently linked with higher levels of fatigue across various dimensions. Gender, marital status, income level, health status, work shifts, and job satisfaction also significantly influence fatigue, reflecting a complex interplay of personal and professional factors.
Results: The results reveal that engineers experience higher levels of fatigue compared to physicians and teachers across most dimensions of the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory (MFSI). Statistically significant differences were found in behavioral, emotional, physical, and general fatigue, while mental fatigue did not show significant variation among the three professions. age and years of experience generally correlate negatively with various dimensions of fatigue, while work hours tend to correlate positively with cognitive, physical, and general fatigue. gender, marital status, income level, health status, work shifts, and job satisfaction significantly influence fatigue levels as measured by the total Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory (MFSI) scores. Specifically, females report higher levels of fatigue compared to males, and individuals who are single report higher fatigue levels than those who are married. Lower income levels are associated with higher fatigue, and poor health status correlates with increased fatigue. Additionally, different work shift patterns contribute to higher fatigue levels, and job dissatisfaction is also linked to significantly higher fatigue
Conclusions: The study reveals that engineers experience higher levels of fatigue compared to physicians and teachers, particularly in behavioral, emotional, physical, and general dimensions, while mental fatigue remains similar across these professions. Age and experience generally reduce fatigue, whereas longer work hours increase cognitive, physical, and general fatigue. Key predictors of fatigue include gender, with females reporting higher levels; marital status, with singles experiencing more fatigue; lower income and poorer health status, which are linked to increased fatigue; and work shifts and job satisfaction, where shift work and dissatisfaction are associated with higher fatigue levels. These findings highlight the complex interplay between job demands and personal factors in influencing fatigue, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to manage fatigue effectively in different occupational contexts.