Stressful and physically demanding jobs may have consequences that extend beyond the workplace, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Public Economics. Researchers found that physician mothers experienced significantly worse birth outcomes than lawyer mothers, despite having similar levels of education, income, and access to healthcare. The study suggests that the intense physical strain and long hours common in medical training and practice can directly affect the health of both workers and their children.
Using birth certificate data from Texas — one of the few states that records parents’ occupations — the researchers identified mothers who listed their occupation as a physician or lawyer. They found that physician mothers were 16% more likely to have an infant with low birth weight and 10% more likely to deliver preterm compared to lawyer mothers. When looking specifically at surgeons, who face even greater physical exertion and stress, the outcomes were the worst of all groups.
To determine whether being a physician itself caused these worse outcomes, the researchers took advantage of a natural experiment: a 2011 reform by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education that limited first-year residents to no more than 16 consecutive work hours. The reform was intended to improve working conditions for physicians in training. By comparing birth outcomes before and after the reform, and between physician mothers and lawyer mothers (who were not affected), the study found that the reform improved birth weights and reduced the chance of infants being born small for their gestational age. These improvements were especially pronounced among young surgeon mothers.
Importantly, the reform had no effect on lawyer mothers or on older physician mothers whose work hours were not subject to the new rules. This strengthens the evidence that changes to workplace environments can have a direct and positive impact on health. The findings underscore that poor health outcomes are not inevitable; they can be addressed through policy interventions.
While the study focuses on physicians, its implications are broader. Many workers across various industries face long hours, physical strain, irregular schedules, and chronic stress. The authors note that workplace conditions can affect not only the workers themselves but also the next generation. They argue that employers, policymakers, and professional organizations have opportunities to design healthier work environments by limiting excessively long shifts, promoting physical activity, offering healthier food options, and reducing chronic stress.
The connection between work and well-being is often discussed in terms of productivity or burnout. This study highlights another dimension: the hidden health costs that can be passed from one generation to the next. As Americans work more hours per year than workers in many other developed countries, the findings add urgency to the conversation about how work environments can be reformed to better support the health of employees and their families.