The Mediating Role of Patient–Physician Communication in the Relationship Between Patient Satisfaction and Psychological Well-Being
TL;DR
The mediation analysis showed that patient–physician communication partially mediates the relationship between patient satisfaction and psychological well-being, indicating that high-quality communication with physicians may function as an explanatory mechanism linking service satisfaction and psychological well-being.
Abstract
Patient–physician communication is a multidimensional phenomenon that influences numerous processes affecting society. High-quality communication established between patients and physicians can positively affect both patients’ treatment processes and their psychological wellbeing. This study examines how individuals’ perceived satisfaction with healthcare services is associated with their psychological well-being and whether communication serves as an explanatory mechanism in this relationship. The study sample consisted of 317 volunteer participants (M = 32.7, SD = 11.1), aged 18 to 66, who received healthcare services at public hospitals in Türkiye and were recruited using snowball sampling. Data were collected online using the Patient–Physician Communication Scale, the Patient Satisfaction Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Pearson correlation analysis and mediation analysis (Model 4) were employed to test the study hypotheses. The results indicated significant positive relationships among patient satisfaction, patient–physician communication, and psychological well-being. The mediation analysis showed that patient–physician communication partially mediates the relationship between patient satisfaction and psychological well-being. The model explained 12% of the total variance, indicating that high-quality communication with physicians may function as an explanatory mechanism linking service satisfaction and psychological well-being. The findings are discussed within the framework of public health policies, institutional regulations, and clinical communication training.