Methods
Identity formation was explored narratively using veterinarians’ social media stories.
Results
Poor professional wellbeing appeared to arise from identity confusion: failure to consistently commit to either the dominant diagnosis-focused discourse valued by academic role models, or a relational discourse, emphasising working through contextual challenges such as varying client needs. Workplace stress appeared to magnify the dominance of academic priorities in self-identity understanding, worsening identity confusion. Also concerning was the positioning of the client ‘as enemy’, obstructive to veterinarians’ identity goals. Social dialogue, intended to provide support during veterinarian–client conflict, potentially reinforced rejection of the client from the veterinary professional identity, strengthening a context-inappropriate, non-relational identity. This worsened identity confusion between the prized ‘diagnostic identity’ and the locally valued relational identity and was detrimental to wellbeing.
Conclusions
Interventions are required, within veterinary education and postgraduate continuing professional development, that encourage reflection on identity and reinforce the value of relational identity attributes.
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