Occupational distress factors associated with suicidal ideation among physicians and comparison with other US workers

This study evaluates associations with suicidal ideation (SI) of impact of work on personal relationships (IWPR), self-valuation (SV), and imposter phenomenon and compares the SI point prevalence in physicians vs other workers.

This study used American Medical Association Physician Professional Data to sample US physicians across different specialties between November 2020-March 2021. Of 7360 survey respondents, 6497 (88.3%) completed the SI question. A probability-based sample included 2508 nonphysician individuals from the US population employed at the time of survey administration, with 2501 workers (99.7%) completing the SI item. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of occupational distress factors, including IWPR, SV, imposter phenomenon, and other factors, with SI before and after adjusting for depression and compare the risk of SI among physicians with other US workers.

The study included 6497 physicians and 2501 workers in other fields. Adjusting for sex, age, relationship status, parenting status, and depression, each 1-point higher IWPR score (range, 0-10) was associated with 10% increased SI odds (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.15). Adjusting for the same variables, each 1-point higher SV score (range, 0-10) was associated with 10% lower SI odds (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85-0.95). The association between imposter phenomenon scores (range, 4-20) and SI was not statistically significant (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.99-1.08). The unadjusted 1-year SI point prevalence was 6.6% (95% CI, 6.0%-7.4%) in physicians vs 5.6% (95% CI, 4.7%-6.6%) among workers in other fields (P = .09). In a multivariable model, workers in other fields with a bachelor's or master's degree had lower SI odds compared with physicians (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46-0.87).

IWPR and low SV are associated with SI among physicians, independent of depression. Development and evaluation of interventions designed to mitigate these factors in physicians may be warranted.