Associations of Well-Being Measures With Suicidal Ideation in Surgeons

In a 2023 national survey of surgeons, nearly one out of 7 surgeons reported thoughts of suicide in the past year. This study aimed to assess the relationship between potentially modifiable personal and professional well-being measures (professional fulfillment, self-valuation, resilience, and loneliness) and suicidal ideation.

An anonymous survey developed by a group of surgeons, psychiatrists, survey scientists, and statisticians was distributed to members of several national surgical societies. Suicidal ideation was assessed using a single item, and the well-being instruments included the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, Stanford Self-Valuation Scale, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, and the De Jong Gierveld Isolation Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between well-being scores with suicidal ideation.

A total of 622 students, trainees, and surgeons completed the survey (51% female). On multivariable analysis adjusted for sex, training level, and prior mental health disorder diagnosis, respondents with higher scores in professional fulfillment (adjusted odds ratio: 0.51 (95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.70), P < 0.001), higher resilience (0.82 [0.73-0.92], P = 0.001), and higher self-valuation (0.83 [0.75-0.91], P < 0.001) had lower odds of reporting suicidal ideation in the previous 12 months, whereas those with higher loneliness scores (1.45 [1.25-1.67], P < 0.001) had higher odds of reporting suicidal ideation in the previous 12 months.

Higher professional fulfillment, resilience, and self-valuation scores were associated with decreased odds of suicidal ideation while higher loneliness scores were associated with increased suicidal ideation. Institutional or professional society-directed initiatives aimed at improving these factors may be potential targets for reducing suicidal ideation among the surgical community.