PLX Academy · News · 05 February 2022
Do physicians have happy marriages
A survey of more than 10,000 doctors shows how they prioritize well-being, work-life balance and family life during the pandemic.
The pandemic may have helped in this respect. Wayne M. Sotile, PhD, founder of the Center for Physician Resilience, noted that he has heard physicians say that they have connected more with their families in the past 18 months. Specialists with the highest rates of happy marriages were otolaryngologists and immunologists (both 91%), followed closely by dermatologists, rheumatologists and nephrologists (all 90%).
Оne of the unexpected consequences of the pandemic is that many people are rethinking their priorities and lifestyles, and physicians are no exception. Among married physicians, 8 in 10 physicians reported that their union is “good” or “very good”, according to the “Medscape 2022 Physician Lifestyle and Happiness Report”.
Eight in 10 physicians (82% of men and 80% of women) said they were “somewhat” or “very” happy outside of work before the pandemic. This is almost exactly the same result as in last year’s survey. However, when asked how happy they are outside of work currently, only 6 in 10 (59%) reported being “somewhat” or “very” happy. While the pandemic has made life difficult for everyone, healthcare professionals face particular stress even outside of work.
Still, physicians reported that spending time with people they love and engaging in favorite activities helps them stay happy. “Spending time with pets” and “religious practice/prayer” were frequent “other” responses to the question, “What do you do to maintain happiness and mental health?” Seven in 10 physicians reported having some kind of religious or spiritual beliefs.
Among physicians balancing a medical career and parenthood, female physicians reported feeling conflicted more often than males (48% vs 29%).
Work-life balance is an important, if elusive, goal for physicians, and not just females. Sixty percent of female doctors and 53% of male doctors said they would be willing to take a cut in pay if it meant more free time and a better work-life balance. Many doctors do manage to get away from work occasionally, with one fifth of all physicians taking five or more weeks of vacation each year.
Few physicians seem to prioritize self-care, with a third indicating they “always” or “most of the time” spend enough time on their own health and wellness. But of those who do, males (38%) are more likely than females (27%) to spend enough time on their own health and wellness. Controlling weight is an issue as well, with 49% of male and 55% of female physicians saying they are currently trying to lose weight.
From physicians who drink alcohol, about a third have three or more drinks per week. (The CDC defines “heavy drinking” as consuming 15 drinks or more per week for men and eight drinks or more per week for women.) Of those surveyed, 92% say they do not regularly use cannabidiol or cannabis, and a mere 4% of respondents said they would use at least one of these substances if they were to become legal in their state.
The report examined survey responses from more than 10,000 U.S.-based physicians in 29 specialties between June and September 2021. The survey polled doctors about how they were prioritizing wellness, work-life balance and their family lives during the pandemic.