Still Higher Risk for Burnout and Low Work Engagement Among Female Residents After 10 Years of Demographic Feminisation

Objectives: We explored whether gender differences in burnout and work engagement characteristics among residents changed after the representation of female physicians has surpassed the 30% threshold of critical mass between 2005 and 2015, as well as if these gender differences are influenced by working in a surgical versus a non-surgical specialty. 

Methods: This study used data of two questionnaire surveys on the well-being of Dutch residents, collected in 2005 (N = 2115) and 2015 (N = 1231). Burnout was measured with the validated Dutch translation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, covering the characteristics emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment. Work engagement was measured with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, covering the characteristics vigour, dedication and absorption. Gender differences in residents’ engagement and burnout characteristics in 2005 and 2015 were analysed using hierarchical regression analyses. Factorial analyses of variance were used to compare gender differences in residents’ burnout and engagement characteristics in general surgery with those in internal medicine. 

Results: In both years, female residents reported higher emotional exhaustion, lower depersonalisation, personal accomplishment, and vigour than males. These gender differences were similar in general surgery and internal medicine. 

Conclusions: This study demonstrated unchanged gender differences in burnout and work engagement characteristics among residents after 10 years of demographic feminisation (increasing female representation), indicating higher risk for burnout and lower work engagement among females, both in surgical and non-surgical specialties. In view of the ever-increasing number of female residents, educators and hospitals need to create supporting work environments that safeguard residents’ well-being.