Women Vets Burn-out Faster than Men: Study

A latest study claims that women veterinarians  burn-out faster than their male colleagues. One in five burn-outs is reported within five years of graduation.

Many studies have been undertaken on the mental stress suffered by vets . Many of these studies emphasized that male vets are less likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and distress than females.

The researchers studied  the level of burn-out and involvement with work among the graduating veterinarians in the past decade. They focused on whether it was gender or the years since graduation that was the determining factor in the stress levels among the vets.

To proceed with the study, the researchers used the job demands-resources (JD-R) questionnaire. This questionnaire balances the negative as well as the positive factors linked with the job. This was done with slight alterations making the questionnaire suitable for vets.

British Veterinary Association President Robin Hargreaves said, "These findings are worrying but sadly not surprising. We know that a burn out and other manifestations of poor mental well-being in veterinary professionals of both sexes are a well-recognised problem in the UK and they are a constant concern to BVA. The suggestion of an increased susceptibility to burn out amongst female vets adds to that concern with the increasing proportion of women in the profession."

Over 1,790 vets who qualified in the Netherlands between 1999-2009 were sent the questionnaire. The analysis was based on  860 responses that they got,  out of which nearly 73 percent were women. On analyzing the response, the researchers noticed lower levels of exhaustion and cynicism, prime factors that are linked with burn-outs. The same was absent in a random sample of Dutch working participants. But the vets also reported lower work engagement.

Nearly 14 percent experienced job burn-outs just a decade in to the profession. Women reached burn-out faster than men. 18 percent of the female participants experienced burn-outs within five years of graduating.

The researchers explain that the difference exists because the male vets are less exhausted and are more focused and involved in their job than their female colleagues.

 "Job demands associated with exhaustion were work -- (home) life balance and workload, while job resources linked to engagement included opportunities for professional development and "skills discretion" -- the ability to use and develop skills on the job," Study explains.

Women were seen rating themselves as proactive, optimistic, assertive and less effective than the male participants.

"A key issue for the veterinary curriculum appears to be the development of students' personal resources, especially proactive behavior and self-efficacy," conclude the authors.

The finding was documented in Veterinary Record.