Date

6-16-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Jerry W. Green

Keywords

physician burnout, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal achievement, workload, reward, fairness, values, community, control

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Physician burnout is a growing public health crisis, threatening care quality, patient safety, and workforce sustainability. Research suggests gender may influence burnout levels and perceptions of the work environment. This quantitative, cross-sectional study examined gender differences in physician burnout and workplace perceptions among U.S. physicians that impact burnout. A total of 170 licensed physicians completed an online survey using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS (MP)) and the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS). MANOVA results indicated a significant multivariate effect of gender on burnout. Follow-up ANOVA testing revealed that gender was significantly related to emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment. A separate MANOVA examining physician work environment perceptions also demonstrated a significant gender effect, with follow-up ANOVAs identifying significant differences in perceptions of workload and community. Female physicians reported higher emotional exhaustion, lower personal accomplishment, greater workloads, and less community support than their male counterparts. These findings highlight the need for targeted organizational strategies, such as improving workplace culture, managing workloads, and enhancing resilience training to address gender-related disparities in physician burnout.

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