title: [Gender aspects in female and male physicians : Occupational and psychosocial stress].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  International studies have shown that physicians have an elevated risk of developing depression or burnout syndrome. Gender aspects with regard to occupation are discussed in German politics and society. Currently, there is little data comparing female and male physicians with regard to stress at work, depression, and burnout.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Are there differences between male and female physicians with respect to psychosocial strain, emotional exhaustion, and depression?
  
  
  METHODS
  In different cross-sectional studies, anaesthetists, psychiatrists and dentists filled out a questionnaire containing questions on personal data, occupation, past medical history and medication intake. Additional standardized questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The return rate was 51.8 % (n = 3782). Male and female physicians vary significantly in social data, participation in the job, and health status. Female physicians are on average not married (p < 0.001) and have significantly fewer children (p < 0.05). Leading positions are mostly held by male physicians (p < 0.001); female physicians more often work in part-time jobs (p < 0.001). Female physicians reached higher scores of emotional exhaustion (MBI) (p < 0.01) and depression (BDI) (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study shows big differences between male and female physicians with respect to their occupation, personal life, and psychosocial wellbeing. Female physicians more often report burnout and depression. Causes might be family and job strain, gender aspects in hierarchy, as well as different recognition and interpretation of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Deutschland. petra.beschoner@uni-ulm.de.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beschoner
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie III, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 12-14, Ulm, 89075, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schönfeldt-Lecuona
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie III, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 12-14, Ulm, 89075, Deutschland.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Freudenmann
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: von Wietersheim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burnout; Depression; Gender; Occupational stress; Physicians