Professional quality of life among migrant and non-migrant mental health staff in Germany: a gender-sensitive cross-sectional study

Germany increasingly relies on an internationally recruited migrant workforce, like Vietnamese migrants, to address shortages in the mental healthcare sector. This cross-sectional study examined differences in the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL), measured through the subscales burnout (BO), secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion satisfaction (CS), among Vietnamese migrant and non-migrant mental health professionals ( N = 312) in Germany. Participants completed an online survey in German or Vietnamese including the ProQOL – 5 Scale, as well as sociodemographic and work-related variables. Multiple linear regression models identified salary across all subscales and psychiatric pre-conditions for BO and STS as significant predictors for ProQOL outcomes. Analyses of covariance compared adjusted group means across migration and gender. Vietnamese migrant professionals report significantly lower CS and higher STS compared to non-migrant professionals, while no significant migration-related differences were observed for BO. Considering gender, women exhibit significantly higher CS than men, whereas no significant gender differences emerged for BO or STS. No significant migration × gender interaction effects were found. Findings indicate migration background is associated with relevant differences in ProQOL among mental health staff in Germany, underscoring the need for targeted support, like an inclusive workplace culture and work-related social network. Further research should incorporate direct measures of migration-related stressors to better understand underlying mechanisms and longitudinal designs.