[Do physicians experience spousal support in their medical career?].
BACKGROUND
The professional life of physicians is characterised by long working days and pressure for efficiency. Family life represents an arena for developing other aspects of life. It is not well known to what extent physicians' spouses are supportive of the physician's total situation, or how gender, age, family or professional aspects influence this perception.


METHODS
In a nation-wide survey of the medical profession, 1594 male and 512 female physicians answered 12 attitude statements relating to work and family life. The responses were grouped by factor analysis into three dimensions: emotional support, instrumental support, and conflict. The statistical analysis for associations between social support and age, family and professional factors was performed separately for men and women in multivariate models.


RESULTS
Physicians were generally satisfied with the support given by their spouses. Female physicians reported more emotional support; male physicians perceived or reported more practical support as well as more conflict. The experience of conflict was most pronounced among physicians aged 35-44 and among those reporting long working hours. The strongest positive association between social support and spouse's profession was found for spouses who were physicians themselves.


CONCLUSIONS
Experienced spousal support among Norwegian physicians is influenced by gender and various aspects of work and family life. Physicians with same-profession spouses expressed the greatest satisfaction with the support they received.
D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D009664:Norway; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires