The life of meaning: A model of the positive contributions to well-being from veterinary work

Cake, M.A.ORCID: 0000-0002-0072-9024, Bell, M.A., Bickley, N. and Bartram, D.J. (2015) The life of meaning: A model of the positive contributions to well-being from veterinary work. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 42 (3). pp. 184-193.

Abstract

We present a veterinary model of work-derived well-being, and argue that educators should not only present a (potentially self-fulfilling) stress management model of future wellness, but also balance this with a positive psychology-based approach depicting a veterinary career as a richly generative source of satisfaction and fulfillment. A review of known sources of satisfaction for veterinarians finds them to be based mostly in meaningful purpose, relationships, and personal growth. This positions veterinary well-being within the tradition of eudaimonia, an ancient concept of achieving one's best possible self, and a term increasingly employed to describe well-being derived from living a life that is engaging, meaningful, and deeply fulfilling. The theory of eudaimonia for workplace well-being should inform development of personal resources that foster resilience in undergraduate and graduate veterinarians.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
Publisher:	Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/28387

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