The Association of Hobbies and Leisure Activities with Physician Burnout and Disengagement

Abstract

exhaustion. Results: Significant differences were seen across age groups, genders, and physician specialties in the level of burnout ( p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p = 0.02, respectively) and job disengagement ( p < 0.01, p = 0.02, p < 0.01, respectively). Younger providers (age < 60) and women had higher levels of burnout. Trainees had higher levels of burnout than full time, part time or retired physicians. North American graduates reported a slightly higher rate of burnout and disengagement than international graduates. 93.9% of physicians viewed outside interests as a substantial mitigation factor for burnout and disengagement. Conclusion: Our study identified associations rather than causality. Nevertheless, emphasizing hobbies and non-medical outside interests might well prove useful to temper epidemic burnout among healthcare professionals. We especially encourage those hobbies with stronger social underpinnings. ABSTRACT