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[Do physicians experience spousal support in their medical career?]
Wenche Østerlie1, Siri Forsmo, Kristen Ringdal
1Institutt for samfunnsmedisinske fag, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Medisinsk teknisk senter, Trondheim. wenche.osterlie@medisin.ntnu.no
Summary
Physician spouses offer valuable support, with satisfaction varying by gender and profession. Those with physician spouses reported the highest satisfaction with support received.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Occupational Health Psychology
Background:
- Physician work-life balance is challenging due to long hours and efficiency demands.
- Understanding spousal support for physicians is crucial for their overall well-being.
- Factors influencing spousal support perception remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spousal support experienced by physicians.
- To examine how gender, age, and professional/family factors influence this support.
- To identify specific aspects of spousal support (emotional, instrumental, conflict).
Main Methods:
- Nation-wide survey of 1594 male and 512 female physicians.
- Factor analysis of 12 attitude statements on work-life support.
- Multivariate statistical analysis of social support associations.
Main Results:
- Physicians generally reported satisfaction with spousal support.
- Female physicians reported more emotional support; males reported more practical support and conflict.
- Conflict was highest in physicians aged 35-44 and those with long working hours.
- Spouses in the medical profession reported the strongest positive association with social support.
Conclusions:
- Spousal support for Norwegian physicians is significantly influenced by gender and work-life factors.
- Physicians partnered with other physicians reported the highest satisfaction with support.
- Tailored support strategies may be needed considering physician demographics and work environments.