title: Striving for work-life balance: effect of marriage and children on the experience of 4402 US general surgery residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine how marital status and having children impact US general surgical residents' attitudes toward training and personal life.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is a paucity of research describing how family and children affect the experience of general surgery residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey involving all US categorical general surgery residents. Responses were evaluated by resident/program characteristics. Statistical analysis included the χ test and hierarchical logistic regression modeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4402 residents were included (82.4% response rate) and categorized as married, single, or other (separated/divorced/widowed). Men were more likely to be married (57.8% vs 37.9%, P < 0.001) and have children (31.5% vs 12.0%, P < 0.001). Married residents were most likely to look forward to work (P < 0.001), and report happiness at work (P < 0.001) and a good program fit (P < 0.001). "Other" residents most frequently felt that work hours caused strain on family life (P < 0.001). Residents with children more frequently looked forward to work (P = 0.001), were happy at work (P = 0.001), and reported a good program fit (P = 0.034), but had strain on family life (P < 0.001), and worried about future finances (P = 0.005). On hierarchical logistic regression modeling, having children was predictive of a resident looking forward to work [odds ratio (OR): 1.22, P = 0.035], yet feeling that work caused family strain (OR: 1.66, P < 0.001); being single was associated with less strain (OR: 0.72, P < 0.001). The female gender was negatively associated with looking forward to work (OR: 0.81, P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residents who were married or parents reported greater satisfaction and work-life conflict. The complex effects of family on surgical residents should inform programs to target support mechanisms for their trainees.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Sanziana A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States