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Work-Life Conflicts

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Burnout in Women Physicians

Abstract

A career in medicine is rife with work-life conflict for both women and men. Women in particular must make choices along their medical journey, the very characteristics of which might be considered drivers of work-life imbalance and burnout (specialty, work hours, income). Societal norms, albeit changing, often result in women being more heavily involved and invested in home and childcare responsibilities. Many physicians feel stigmatized if they take advantage of flexible policies. Personal characteristics such as commitment to self-care, the ability to self-promote and to set limits, as well as the lack of effective role models and mentors for women can further impede successful work-life integration. This chapter explores key drivers of work-life conflicts in medicine, differences among the specialties and between male and female physicians, reasons for greater distress among women, and potential solutions across the career lifespan.

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Weinlander, E.E. (2020). Work-Life Conflicts. In: Stonnington, C., Files, J. (eds) Burnout in Women Physicians. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44459-4_7

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