The work life balance investigation of the female physician

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08571
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Medical sociology
• Research Institution: Nippon Medical School
• Principal Investigator: Umihara Junko 日本医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (30119763)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 錦谷 まりこ 九州大学, 持続可能な社会のための決断科学センター, 准教授 (40327333) ; 前田 美穂 日本医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (90173715)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ワークライフバランス / 継続就労 / ジェンダー意識

Outline of Final Research Achievements

While the number of female medical doctors is increasing, the percentage of those who actually work as a doctor is still lower than that of male doctors. In addition, the number of female doctors who hold managerial positions is very limited. This is believed to be partly due to the difficulties in maintaining a work-life balance for female doctors. A survey was conducted to investigate what is needed to help them keep their profession throughout their life stages. Participants included both male and female doctors. The results showed female doctors tend to feel more burdened by housework and childrearing compared to male doctors. In addition, it showed that gender role awareness that was obtained through their childhood affected female doctors’ choice in whether or not giving up their career. This suggests better education in career and gender awareness is needed not only for women but also men in order to support female doctors in continuing working through different life stages.

Free Research Field

心療内科