The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Dual-Physician Couples: A Disproportionate Burden on Women Physicians

Abstract

Background: Currently, physicians face an unprecedented crisis with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on dual-physician households remains unknown. In this survey study, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dual-physician families and described gendered differences related to the impact of the pandemic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey distributed via e-mail and social media, with results collected from April 30, 2020 until May 26, 2020. Respondents were members of a dual-physician couple. Respondents provided information on demographic characteristics and the impact of the pandemic on their professional lives, personal lives, and well-being. Categorical variables were compared using chi-squared or Fisher's exact test. Ordinal variables were compared between genders using Cochran-Armitage trend test. Feeling emotionally and physically drained compared to pre-pandemic was analyzed as a binary outcome in a multivariable logistic model. Results: Of the 1799 physicians who completed the survey, 52% were between 30 and 39 years old, 81% selfidentified as women, and 62% were white. Women were more likely to report increased worry about their job security, finances, personal health, partner's health, and children's health ( p = 0.02, p = 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Seventy-eight percent of respondents reported feeling more drained during the pandemic. Multivariable analysis revealed that female gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7-3.3, p < 0.001), and having children younger than 5 years of age (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.05-1.95, p = 0.02) were associated with an increased risk of feeling more drained. Conclusions: Women were more likely to report increased worry about job security, finances, and health and had an increased risk of feeling more drained during the pandemic. While the COVID-19 pandemic is a significant stress for all physicians, women in dual-physician families were disproportionately affected, demonstrating the need for increased support from hospital administrations.

GP wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

“… 30 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 47 , 48 Similar findings have been reported in other physician groups in China, 60 and greater job strain has been reported among female doctors in dual-doctor marriages during the pandemic. 61 Experiences according to age varied across studies, with higher stress reported in older groups but more anxiety and depression in younger groups.…”

“…While women may be more open in discussing difficulties and seeking support due to socialised gender norms, 64 women may also have experienced greater pressures during the pandemic due to wider caring responsibilities. 63 Increasing stress with age may result from seniority and additional roles including practice management. Policy makers and researchers may wish to consider these gender and age differences in order to design tailored interventions.…”

Disproportionate Negative Career Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Female Pediatric Cardiologists in the Northeast United States

“…This is in contrast to other studies of physicians during the pandemic, as well as pre-pandemic studies, that have demonstrated full-time employed female physicians with children spend more than 100 additional minutes per day on household activities and childcare than male physicians, even after adjustment for professional hours worked [ 20 ]. Soares et al similarly demonstrated that in dual physician households women spent more time on household duties and childcare during the pandemic [ 21 ]. Female physicians were also more likely to report increased worry about their career and feeling more emotionally and physically drained [ 21 ].…”

Experiences of Work-Family Conflict and Mental Health Symptoms by Gender Among Physician Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…6 An emerging body of literature suggests that gender disparities in work and family roles and conflict between those roles may be an important factor, [7][8][9][10] particularly for women in dual-physician families. 11,12 Pandemic changes in mental and physical demands at work and at home may exacerbate these existing gender inequalities and may therefore pose a greater threat to the career progression of female physicians, especially mothers. At the same time, as frontline health care workers during an infectious disease outbreak, physicians face unique stressors that place them at greater risk for worsening mental health.…”