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Mediating Factors and Well-Being Differences by Gender Among Academic Physicians
Miriam T Stewart1, Mihriye Mete2, Mariah Quinn3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia.
JAMA Network Open
|March 18, 2026
Summary
Female physicians experience more burnout than male physicians, primarily due to factors like self-valuation. Addressing these occupational well-being factors is key to improving physician well-being and reducing distress.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Occupational health
- Physician well-being
Background:
- Occupational distress significantly impacts physicians, particularly female physicians.
- Understanding the contributing factors to this distress is crucial for developing effective interventions.
- Improving physician occupational well-being yields organizational benefits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze factors associated with occupational distress among female physicians.
- To compare occupational well-being markers between male and female physicians.
- To explore the mediating role of specific factors in the gender difference in occupational distress.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was administered to attending physicians at 15 US academic medical institutions.
- The Professional Fulfillment Index was used to measure burnout and professional fulfillment, including subscales for leadership support, values alignment, schedule control, EHR helpfulness, and self-valuation.
- Mediation models were employed to assess the influence of occupational well-being factors on the gender disparity in distress.
Main Results:
- A total of 16,731 physicians (8197 female, 8534 male) were included in the analysis.
- Female physicians reported higher rates of burnout (42% vs 33%) and lower professional fulfillment (34% vs 46%) compared to male physicians (P < .001).
- Self-valuation emerged as the most significant mediator, accounting for 63% of the gender difference in burnout; other factors also played a mediating role.
Conclusions:
- The gender disparity in physician burnout is largely mediated by occupational well-being factors, with self-valuation being a key factor.
- While these factors explain burnout differences, they do not fully account for the gender gap in professional fulfillment, indicating a need for further investigation.
- Targeting factors like self-valuation and improving occupational well-being can help mitigate burnout among female physicians.
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