Why is it more likely that some physicians perceive higher level of stress? The association between individual differences and stress in a group of Italian practicing physicians

The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the role of physicians’ intolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty and need for cognitive closure in predicting their level of perceived stress. We hypothesized that higher degree of ambiguity and uncertainty intolerance and higher need for cognitive closure will predict higher work-related stress.The sample included 212 practicing physicians who differed in relation to age, gender, years of experience, and medical specialties (cognitive vs. procedural). Results suggested that the higher inability to tolerate ambiguity significantly predicts higher level of perceived work-related stress. Possibly, high ambiguity intolerant physicians try to handle ambiguous situations by applying a sort of dichotomous thinking, even though most of the medical decisions would require the ability to take into account, explore, and “tolerate” the existence of multiple possibilities, which fall outside the black-and-white terms. This way of approaching ambiguity could make ambiguity intolerant physicians feel unsecure and less confident about their own competencies, thus experiencing high levels of stress.