Highlights
- •What is the primary question addressed by this study?Do older physicians report the same level of general psychological distress, burnout, alcohol use, and workplace stressors as younger colleagues?
- •What is the main finding of this study?Older physicians reported significantly less psychological distress, burnout and suicidal ideation than younger and middle aged colleagues, but not alcohol use. This group was also the least likely to report all work-related stressors as “very stressful.”
- •What is the meaning of the finding?The overall pattern of results supports an age-related maturation in coping style and greater professional experience, and/or natural selection toward more psychologically resilient physicians over time.
ABSTRACT
Objective
Most of the published data on the psychological health of physicians has focused on
the youngest members of the profession. The aims of this analysis were to determine
how psychological morbidity changes across the career cycle.
Methods
We report data from the cross-sectional National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and
Medical Students, conducted in Australia. Age differences in psychological distress,
suicidal ideation, alcohol use, burnout, workplace, and personal stressors were examined
for younger (40 years and younger), middle aged (41–60), and older (61+) physicians.
Results
A total of 10,038 physicians responded. Older physicians reported significantly less
psychological distress, burnout and suicidal ideation than younger and middle aged
colleagues, findings that were maintained after adjusting for sex and excluding trainees.
There were no group differences in overall alcohol use and high risk drinking. On
multivariate analysis, the largest contributor to psychological distress in older
physicians was a past history of mental disorder. There was a decline across age groups
in the endorsement as “very stressful” of work-life conflict and work-anxiety stressors
such as fear of making mistakes. Older physicians were least likely to feel very stressed
by all workplace stressors.
Conclusion
The better psychological health of older physicians highlights the need to consider
physician health according to age and career stage. Apart from the decline in work
stressors, in particular work-life conflict, there may be a survivor effect such that
physicians who practice into older age have developed greater resilience and professional
maturation.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 12, 2020
Accepted:
September 11,
2020
Received in revised form:
September 11,
2020
Received:
July 1,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
