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Dual-doctor marriages: the British experience
C A Johnson1, B E Johnson, B S Liese
1Department of Family Practice, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
Journal of the American Medical Women'S Association (1972)
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Dual-doctor marriages show minimal competition and good spousal support, though traditional chore division and work-life balance challenges persist. Understanding each other
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Marriage
- Medical Professional Studies
Background:
- Dual-doctor marriages are increasingly prevalent.
- Limited research exists on the perceptions of these marriages from both partners' perspectives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the attributes of dual-doctor marriages as perceived by both spouses.
- To identify sources of satisfaction and conflict within these unions.
Main Methods:
- Structured interviews were conducted with both partners in 21 married-doctor couples in Britain.
- Data collected focused on marital dynamics, career support, work-life balance, and communication.
Main Results:
- Doctors reported low marital competition, high spousal support, and reasonable satisfaction with intimacy.
- Challenges included difficulty relaxing, traditional division of household chores, and work-related conflicts (time away, work brought home).
- High marital satisfaction was reported, with mutual understanding of professional demands cited as a key advantage.
Conclusions:
- Dual-doctor marriages often feature mutual understanding and support, but face challenges in work-life balance and traditional gender roles.
- Prioritizing one career and time constraints are significant disadvantages.
- Further research can explore strategies for mitigating these challenges.