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Publication
Understanding job satisfaction and occupational stressors of distinctive roles in zoos and aquariums
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Abstract: For professionals caring for humans or non-human animals, many joys are to be found
in working towards what an individual believes to be their calling, especially as they contribute to
purposeful, meaningful work consistent with and intrinsic to their own values and beliefs. However, there can be downfalls. Empathic strain, conflict between co-workers, dissatisfaction with
upper management, lack of opportunities to make positive changes, limited or no access to level
and experience-appropriate professional development, and other stressors are all risks carried by
organisations concerned with animal welfare. In the present study, a survey on job satisfaction and
workplace stressors was completed by 311 zoo and aquarium professionals working in a range of
roles from junior animal care staff to curator. Respondent profiles were created using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and four distinct clusters were identified through Hierarchical Clustering
on Principal Components (HCPC), highlighting common themes in different levels of experience and
in job roles regarding stressors, satisfaction, and feelings about their work and workplaces. Overall,
many zoo professionals were concerned with lacking the ability to feel empowered to do their best
for animal welfare, and they described a link between the staff welfare and their perceptions of the
welfare of the animals they cared for. Through identifying and understanding where organisations
can better support their staff it is possible to target and reduce the number of common stressors faced
by zoo professionals, leading to increased staff retention, higher job satisfaction, and an improved
ability to perform at their best for animal welfare.
Description
Keywords
Human wellbeing Animal wellbeing Animal welfare Hedonic Eudaimonic
Citation
Brando, S., Rachinas-Lopes, P., Goulart, V. D. L. R., & Hart, L. A. (2023). Understanding Job Satisfaction and Occupational Stressors of Distinctive roles in zoos and aquariums. Animals (2076-2615), 13(12), 2018. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13122018
Publisher
MDPI Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute