The relationship between job satisfaction and mental health in healthcare professionals: a scoping review

The well-being and performance of healthcare professionals in non-emergency settings are significantly influenced by job satisfaction and mental health. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the relationships between job satisfaction and mental health in healthcare professionals. A comprehensive literature search identified 24 relevant cross-sectional studies conducted in various countries, including Australia, Brazil, and the United States. The studies included a diverse range of healthcare workers, such as physicians, nurses, and nurse managers. Most studies report that higher job satisfaction is associated with better mental health outcomes, while lower job satisfaction is linked to symptoms of anxiety, depression, burnout, and psychosomatic complaints. The association emerges across professions and countries, although its strength varies according to organizational and contextual factors. These findings indicate that monitoring job satisfaction may help identify early vulnerability to mental health problems among healthcare staff. Interventions that improve working conditions and recognition of professional roles can enhance satisfaction and reduce the risk of psychopathological outcomes. Clinically, these patterns reflect dimensions of psychological distress (e.g., emotional exhaustion, anxiety, depressed mood), suggesting that brief workplace screening and early support may be warranted. Given that the included studies are predominantly crosssectional, causal inferences remain tentative and future longitudinal research is needed to clarify directionality and trajectories.