Speciality preferences in Dutch medical students influenced by their anticipation on family responsibilities

Age: Mean (SD; Min–Max)

24.4 (2.4; 21–46)

24.9 (3.1; 21–45)

0.015*

Civil status

0.272

 Single

37.0 (286)

33.3 (91)

 In a relationship

63.0 (486)

66.7 (182)

Children

0.033*

 Yes

1.3 (10)

3.3 (9)

 No

98.7 (752)

96.7 (260)

Mother’s education

0.189

 No/lower

48.5 (370)

53.1 (144)

 Higher

51.5 (393)

46.9 (127)

Father’s education

0.495

 No/lower

36.0 (273)

33.7 (91)

 Higher

64.0 (485)

66.3 (179)

Mother’s work

0.278

 Full-time

23.3 (133)

27.1 (55)

 Part-time

76.7 (438)

72.9 (148)

Father’s work

0.677

 Full-time

87.3 (542)

86.2 (187)

 Part-time

12.7 (79)

13.8 (30)

Specialities

 Internal medicine

12.3 (95)

14.9 (41)

0.78 (0.54/1.18)

0.261

2.01 (1.35/3.0)

0.001*

 Psychiatry

1.9 (15)

2.5 (7)

0.76 (0.31/1.87)

0.545

0.41 (0.17/1.0)

0.047*

 Neurology

3.7 (29)

4.7 (13)

0.78 (0.40/1.53)

0.475

2.05 (1.02/4.14)

0.045*

 Paediatrics

5.5 (43)

4.0 (11)

1.41 (0.72/2.78)

0.320

0.84 (0.49/1.46)

0.541

 Surgery

7.6 (59)

21.5 (59)

0.30 (0.20/0.45)

0.000*

4.98 (2.93/8.45)

0.000*

 Gynaecology

7.1 (55)

4.7 (13)

1.54 (0.83/2.86)

0.173

1.47 (0.88/2.47)

0.146

 Family medicine

32.5 (252)

18.5 (51)

2.12 (1.51/2.97)

0.000*

0.33 (0.25/0.44)

0.000*

 Other

13.7 (106)

15.3 (42)

0.88 (0.60/1.30)

0.514

1.15 (0.81/1.65)

0.433

 I don’t know

15.6 (121)

13.8 (38)

1.15 (0.78/1.71)

0.476

0.91 (0.65/1.28)

0.579

Work-life issues

Career

1

 Same opportunities concerning career as partner

41.1 (314)

39.1 (106)

1.14 (0.87–0.34)

0.340

1.34 (1.04–1.72)

0.023*

2

 Partner less ambitious than you

37.1 (284)

44.5 (121)

0.65 (0.49–0.00)

0.004*

1.74 (1.36–2.24)

0.000*

3

 Job and career goals affect choice of having a family

76.9 (587)

64.6 (175)

1.93 (1.33–0.00)

0.001*

0.94 (0.65–1.35)

0.742

4

 Having a family affects job and career aspirations

64.4 (487)

62.9 (171)

1.01 (0.72–0.97)

0.970

0.96 (0.70–1.30)

0.777

5

 Job and career goals of partner affect choice of having a family

48.6 (370)

61.3 (166)

0.53 (0.37–0.00)

0.001*

1.43 (1.08–1.91)

0.014*

6

 Having a family affects job and career aspirations of partner

49.1 (372)

64.3 (175)

0.51 (0.35–0.00)

0.000*

1.01 (0.75–1.36)

0.931

Care

7

 Equally share household chores

72.9 (557)

57.3 (157)

2.11 (1.53–0.00)

0.000*

0.77 (0.57–1.06)

0.104

8

 Household chores by someone else¹

60.8 (465)

50.6 (137)

1.42(1.05–0.02)

0.024*

1.05 (0.79–1.39)

0.751

9

 Equal care of the children

60.9 (465)

50.5 (138)

1.37 (0.99–0.06)

0.060

1.11 (0.82–1.51)

0.485

10

 Taking care of the children by day care centre

71.0 (540)

59.0 (161)

1.59 (1.09–0.02)

0.016*

1.12 (0.78–1.60)

0.553

11

 Taking care of the children by nanny and grandparents

76.9 (586)

59.6 (162)

2.02 (1.38–0.00)

0.000*

0.94 (0.65–1.36)

0.754