Abstract: SA-PO0990
Effects of Work-Life Integration on Teaching Among Junior Physicians with Children
Session Information
- Educational Research
October 24, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 1000 Educational Research
Authors
- Jain, Koyal, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Esposito, Maria, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Chen, Fei, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- McKinley, Tara, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Background
Most academic institutions require teaching evaluations for promotions. Junior physician faculty carry heavier clinical workloads and don't have protected time in academia. Also, women in medicine experience gender differences, which can impact promotion rates. There is limited research on work-life integration shaping the teaching experiences of junior physicians with children. This study explores the impact of work and family life on the ability of junior physicians with children to participate in education. It explores the institutional support needed to help them achieve teaching goals.
Methods
Junior faculty physicians (clinical instructor or assistant professor) with children in the DOM were included. A convenience and snowball sampling was done with semi-structured Zoom interviews. Thematic analysis performed.
Results
In this phenomenological study, 18 junior faculty parents (all Assistant Professors) from 11 divisions in the DOM were interviewed. Most were female (n = 10). Most parents had 2 children (n = 10). All participants(100%) indicated that parenthood impacted their teaching.
All junior faculty struggled with balancing teaching activities regardless of gender. However, mothers reported higher guilt and identity conflict as opposed to fathers:
"feel, like, kind of like a bad doctor, a bad mom, and, like, bad at everything, because you're being spread so thin."
"little bit of extra pressure on women...you're at home wanting to be with your kids, so you're not giving all you're all at work…there's a guilt about that…woman is always the one, the mom is always the one that's called I think lots of working moms have a lot of guilt and feelings about all this stuff."
Faculty reported that parenthood improved empathy and patience but reduced engagement due to structural time limitations and lack of protected time. Existing divisional support and culture was especially important in improving work-life integration. Ways to improve the balance between teaching activities and family life include parental support groups, leadership modeling work-life balance, work flexibility, and other structural and nursing support.
Conclusion
Multiple barriers to teaching exist for junior physicians. Mothers especially struggled with guilt related to their different roles. Practical solutions can improve balance between family and teaching and should be considered by institutions and departments.
Funding
- Private Foundation Support