Exploring gender differences in professional well-being among U.S. optometrists

Female U.S.-based optometrists report worse professional well-being outcomes compared with males. These differences are of increased importance as the optometry workforce continues to transition from male-dominated to female-dominated and may inform future interventions.

The aim is to assess gender differences among optometrists in job satisfaction, job stress, burnout, and potential contributing factors as captured by the Mini-Z survey.

A modified 10-question Mini-Z survey was distributed to optometric professional organizations via email and social media and remained open for 14 days. Additional demographic and field-specific questions were added to the survey. Mini-Z survey responses were dichotomized with the least desirable of the Likert scale responses as the outcome of interest. Chi-squared and two-sample t test analyses were used to compare demographic and practice characteristics between men and women. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models are presented with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to compare the 10 dichotomized Mini-Z survey response questions by gender.

A total of 1424 optometrists responded to the survey, with 65% identifying as female, 35% as male, and 1% as another gender. Female respondents were significantly less likely to be White, married, have children, earn $200,000 USD or more annually, feel they are adequately compensated, be mid-career or later, perform laser procedures, and own their practice. In adjusted analysis, female respondents reported worse or higher job stress (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.06, p=0.0032), burnout (OR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.58 to 2.81, p<0.0001), control over workload (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.20 to 2.18, p=0.0016), time for documentation (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.05, p=0.0031), value misalignment with leadership (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.15 to 2.34, p=0.0059), team efficiency (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.36, p=0.0074), and a greater amount of time spent on electronic health record at home (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.30 to 2.61, p=0.0005) compared with males.

Female optometrists report worse professional well-being outcomes compared with males as assessed by the Mini-Z survey, even after accounting for demographic and practice characteristics.