Career satisfaction of physical therapy faculty during their pretenure years.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compile information about and define variables that are influential in the career satisfaction of tenure-track, full-time, physical therapy faculty who have been employed in academia for 5 years or less but who do not yet have tenure. An investigator-developed instrument was used to collect the data. The self-report instrument contained 80 items in four categories: demographics, social supports, teaching, and scholarly activity. Questionnaires were sent to junior physical therapy faculty at the 127 physical therapist schools in the United States and Puerto Rico listed by the American Physical Therapy Association in 1993. There were 163 responses to the survey, representing an estimated 85% of the population of junior faculty as defined by this survey. Eighty-three percent of junior faculty surveyed were satisfied with having taken an academic position, despite feelings of loneliness, tenure anxiety, heavy work loads, and the desire for more guidance from colleagues. Social and collegial supports such as relationship with senior faculty and experienced colleagues are key elements influencing faculty satisfaction. Information is given that could be utilized by directors and faculty who are planning to guide the professional development of new faculty.