Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Maternity Leave in Residency: A Multicenter Study of Determinants and Wellness Outcomes
Shobha W Stack1, Reshma Jagsi, J Sybil Biermann
1S.W. Stack is assistant professor of medicine, associate director, Medicine Student Programs, and director, Medical Student Scholarship, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6586-9266. R. Jagsi is professor of radiation oncology, program director, Radiation Oncology Residency Program, and director, Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6562-1228. J.S. Biermann is professor of orthopedic surgery and associate dean of graduate medical education at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. G.P. Lundberg is associate professor of medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, and clinical director, Emory Women's Heart Center, Atlanta, Georgia. K.L. Law is associate professor of medicine, program director, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and associate vice chair of education, Department of Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. C.K. Milne is professor of medicine, program director, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and vice chair for education, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4782-1901. S.G. Williams is assistant professor of reproductive medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California. T.C. Burton is assistant professor of pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida. C.L. Larison is research consultant, Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1412-5993. J.A. Best is associate professor of medicine, associate program director, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and associate dean of graduate medical education, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
Purpose:
To characterize determinants of resident maternity leave and the effect of length of leave on maternal well-being.
Method:
In 2017, the authors sent a voluntary, anonymous survey to female residents at 78 programs, in 25 unique specialties, at 6 institutions. Survey items included personal, partner, and child demographics, and logistics of leave, including whether leave was paid or vacation or sick leave was used. Outcomes were maternity leave length; duration of breastfeeding; burnout and postpartum depression screens; perceptions of support; and satisfaction with length of leave, breastfeeding, and childbearing during residency.
Results:
Fifty-two percent (804/1,537) of residents responded. Among 16% (126) of respondents who were mothers, 50% (63) had their first child during residency. Seventy-seven maternity leaves were reported (range, 2-40 weeks), with most taking 6 weeks (32% of leaves; 25) and including vacation (81%; 62) or sick leave (64%; 49). Length of leave was associated with institution, use of sick leave or vacation, and amount of paid leave. The most frequently self-reported determinant of leave was the desire not to extend residency training (27%; 59). Training was not extended for 53% (41) of mothers; 9% (7) were unsure. Longer breastfeeding duration and perceptions of logistical support from program administration were associated with longer maternity leaves. Burnout affected approximately 50% (38) of mothers regardless of leave length.
Conclusions:
This study illustrates variability in administration of resident maternity leaves. Targets for intervention include policy clarification, improving program support, and consideration of parent wellness upon return to work.
Related Concept Videos
02:14Leaving Groups
In general, in a nucleophilic substitution reaction, a nucleophile displaces a functional group, called the leaving group, from the substrate to give a substituted product. A leaving group departs the substrate molecule through heterolytic cleavage, taking the pair of electrons with it to become a relatively stable weak base in the form of an anion or a neutral molecule.
In a...
02:24Predicting Reaction Outcomes
01:05Noncompartmental Analysis: Mean Residence Time
After the administration of a drug through intravenous bolus injection, the drug molecules are distributed throughout the body and remain there for varying periods. The MRT represents the average time these drug molecules stay in the...
01:13Outcomes of Glycolysis
Cellular respiration can occur aerobically (with oxygen) or anaerobically (without oxygen). In the presence of oxygen, cellular respiration starts with glycolysis and continues with pyruvate...
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
02:27Basic Plant Anatomy: Roots, Stems, and Leaves