Educational Debt and Excessive Work Hours Linked to Burnout in Early-Career Family Physicians

Recent research has highlighted a significant correlation between high levels of educational debt, extended work hours, and the prevalence of burnout symptoms among early-career family physicians. The study analyzed data from the American Board of Family Medicine's Initial Certification Questionnaire (2017–2020) and the subsequent National Graduate Survey (2020–2023), encompassing 4,905 U.S. outpatient family physicians in their initial professional years.

Findings revealed that approximately 18% of these physicians reported no educational debt at graduation, while about 16% owed more than $350,000. Those with higher debt burdens tended to work longer hours weekly. There was a clear association between increased weekly work hours and greater reports of burnout symptoms; physicians working 60 or more hours per week were nearly three times more likely to experience burnout compared to those working under 40 hours.

Furthermore, even after adjusting for other factors, physicians with debt levels between $250,000 and over $350,000 exhibited higher odds of reporting burnout symptoms relative to their debt-free counterparts. These findings suggest that substantial educational debt and longer working hours independently contribute to burnout risk among early-career family physicians.

Addressing educational debt and workload management may be essential strategies in reducing burnout and supporting physician well-being. Implementing policies to lessen financial burdens and promote healthier work-life balance could improve overall mental health outcomes for these healthcare providers.

For more information, see the full study in The Annals of Family Medicine. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-high-debt-hours-burnout-symptoms.html