Contributors to Gender Differences in Burnout and Professional Fulfillment: A Survey of Physician Faculty

This study was conducted to describe gender differences in physician burnout and professional fulfillment and to explore their potential contributors.

This was a single-center, cross-sectional survey study of physician faculty at Brigham and Women's Hospital, an academic medical center in Boston. The population included all physician faculty who practiced clinical medicine in 2017 (n = 2,388). The study was conducted using the Stanford Physician Wellness Survey. Burnout and professional fulfillment were the main outcome measures assessed. Other variables assessed included ratings of culture of wellness, personal resilience, and efficiency of practice factors associated with physician experience.

The study population consisted of 1,066 faculty, of whom 46.4% were female and 59.8% were younger than 50. Female physicians reported significantly higher rates of burnout (42.4% vs. 34.4%, p = 0.01) and lower rates of professional fulfillment (35.1% vs. 50.4%, p < 0.01) than male physicians. Female physicians reported lower ratings for self-compassion and multiple culture of wellness factors. After adjusting for demographic factors and academic rank, the study team identified multiple culture of wellness factors (perceived appreciation, schedule control, work environment diversity and inclusion) and self-compassion as attenuating the significant relationship between gender and burnout. Only perceived appreciation attenuated the significant relationship between gender and professional fulfillment.

This study demonstrated higher rates of burnout and lower rates of professional fulfillment among female vs. male physician faculty. Culture of wellness factors and self-compassion may contribute to gender differences in burnout and professional fulfillment and potentially represent modifiable targets for efforts seeking to eliminate gender disparities in physicians' workplace experiences.