Physical and psychological health of family practice residents

Substantial evidence supports the concept that residency training is physically and emotionally stressful. However, few studies have examined resident health. This study measured the physical and psychological health of family practice residents and compared these results with population norms.

This cross-sectional, descriptive study used physical health measures of weight, blood pressure, skin-fold thickness, serum cholesterol, and aerobic exercise capacity. Psychological measures included the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. A demographic and lifestyle questionnaire was also administered. Data were collected on 178 residents in seven family practice residency programs in South Carolina.

Physical health measures show that residents are indistinguishable from age-specific population norms. Psychological testing revealed excellent coping skills with clinically significant psychological symptoms noted in only one of the 178 residents.

This study provides evidence that despite the rigors of residency training, family practice residents in South Carolina have average physical health and better-than-average psychological health, according to age-adjusted population norms. These results suggest that the coping skills of family practice residents are well suited to the stresses of family practice residency training.