Women psychiatrists: personal and professional choices--a survey

A survey of female psychiatrists' personal and professional choices, their stress levels related to these choices, and their overall personal and professional satisfaction was conducted.

Members of the Association of Women Psychiatrists residing in the U.S. and Canada were anonymously surveyed.

Respondents with children spent significantly less time in career related activities, more time in family related activities, were more satisfied with their careers and with intimate relationships, and had less personal time than respondents without children. Respondents with academic affiliation reported significantly more satisfaction with their careers as a source of economic and personal reward, devoted more time to career related activities, less time to family, and were more stressed by current professional situation than women without academic appointment. Respondents without children and with academic affiliations reported the most stress in their current professional setting.

Female psychiatrists who were able to combine children, intimate relationships, and academic involvement were the most satisfied of all groups.