Relationship fulfillment among spouses and partners of physicians: findings from the AMA Alliance Physician Family Experience Survey

Physician work-life integration extends beyond physicians themselves, influencing spouses, partners, and family relationships that provide critical emotional and practical support throughout medical careers. Despite growing emphasis on physician well-being, little is known about how contemporary physician work demands affect family well-being. We evaluated physician-family experiences, compared findings with a similar national survey conducted in 2011, and identified factors independently associated with relationship fulfillment among physicians’ spouses and partners. The Physician Family Experience Survey was a national cross-sectional survey conducted in 2023 among spouses and partners of physicians and physician trainees. Survey items were aligned with a previously published national survey to permit repeated cross-sectional comparisons. Multivariable logistic regression identified demographic, occupational, and family characteristics independently associated with relationship fulfillment. Among 1,422 respondents, relationship fulfillment was significantly lower than reported in 2011. Respondents reported spending less daily time with their physician partner and more frequent work-related intrusion into family life, including physicians returning home too tired to participate in desired activities and remaining preoccupied with work while at home. 60% of respondents reported that their own career opportunities had been negatively affected by their partner’s medical career. In multivariable analysis, physician work hours of ≥ 60 h/week, surgical specialty, and perceived negative career impact were independently associated with lower odds of relationship fulfillment. These findings suggest that physician work-life integration should be viewed as a family-centered construct rather than solely an individual physician outcome. Physician work demands affect not only physicians but also the relationships and support systems that sustain them. Organizational strategies that protect family time, reduce work intrusion into home life, and support physician families may strengthen physician well-being, workforce sustainability, and patient care. Not applicable.