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Survey data from 113 female physicians, 634 male physicians, and 41 female dentists were compared. Instruments designed to assess work satisfaction, work stress, marital satisfaction, family competence, and psychiatric symptoms and treatment were used, thereby exploring important life domains concurrently. The results suggest that female physicians are much more like both male physicians and female dentists than anticipated. Generally, female physicians describe high levels of work satisfaction, moderate levels of work stress, average-to-high levels of marital satisfaction, and relatively low levels of psychiatric distress. Their lower levels of practice income remain something of an enigma as gender remains the most powerful predictor of income and is not replaced in statistical analyses by specialty, hours worked, or other significant variables. Finally, female physicians who find higher levels of satisfaction in work also report higher levels of marital satisfaction and fewer psychiatric symptoms. For these women, a highly satisfying medical career does not apparently need to be experienced at the cost of marital or personal distress.

The work stress of physicians is considered high, and many are contemplating leaving the profession. Documenting the specific aspects of practice found to be most stressful is important, and useful insights may be obtained by contrasting physicians who report high and low levels of work stress. Contrasting the work stress of physicians and dentists can be useful for both professions. Accordingly, we surveyed 3156 members of the Dallas County Medical Society and 1273 members of the Dallas County Dental Society plus a large group of their spouses. Although the level of work satisfaction is the most powerful predictor of work stress, other significant predictors are younger age, long working hours, and solo practice. Physicians who report high levels of work stress also report lower levels of marital satisfaction and a higher prevalence of psychiatric symptoms. Dentists are much like physicians in their reports of overall work stress, and the similarities and differences regarding specific stressors suggest the two professions are more alike than different in reporting the stresses of professional practice.

In a climate that many practitioners find increasingly oppressive, data suggesting the most and least satisfying aspects of medical practice are important. In a joint effort, the Dallas County Medical Society, Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital, and Timberlawn Psychiatric Research Foundation explored levels of work satisfaction for their relationships with marital satisfaction and psychiatric symptoms as reported by physicians and dentists and their spouses. Most physicians and dentists rate various aspects of direct patient care and service to humanity as highly satisfying aspects of professional life. Physicians highly satisfied with their work are more likely to report high satisfaction in their marriages and fewer psychiatric symptoms. Most spouses of physicians report high levels of marital satisfaction, and high agreement exists between the marital satisfaction ratings of physicians and their spouses. Physicians and dentists are quite similar on the wide range of professional and personal variables surveyed.