How Does Residency Affect Medical Marriages?

Introduction

Oftentimes, doctors fall in love during medical school as they spend most of their time attending classes and studying the library. In fact, a large number of married physicians tied the knot during the last years of medical school. However, this arrangement does not come without challenges. In this article, we will discuss the impact of residency on medical marriages and how you can optimize your time for a successful marriage.

The working hours during residency

Residents work the longest hours among all healthcare professionals. In the U.S., a resident may work up to 110 hours per week, which severely alters his/her personal life. Add to that the pressure encountered during the job and always being on-call, and residents can’t even find the time to sleep. Generally, medical residency programs take around 3-4 years, which is not the case for surgical specialties.

The implications of residency on medical marriages

Because there is little time for a resident to spend with his/her spouse, this may create a gap in their relationship, making the other partner feeling alone and neglected. Moreover, 36-hour on-call and frequent nightshifts lengthen the distance between the married couple. While dual-medical marriage might not be as affected by this problem because of the comprehensive understanding of the situation, it is still a challenge for married couples.

How to optimize your medical marriage during residency

In our series of articles, we have discussed in great detail the tips and tricks to optimize a medical marriage. There are several things you can do to improve your marriage, including sparing time for date nights, talking about shared values, the fair contribution to home tasks, and open communication. If you want to learn more about all the tips, check out this link (insert link of medical marriage benefits).

Takeaway message

Residency takes a toll on medical marriages, especially in surgical specialties that require physicians to spend most of their time in the hospital performing procedures. Additionally, these programs last between 4-6 years, further exacerbating the situation. Hopefully, you will gather all the information you need from our articles to optimize your marriage and avoid any unnecessary marital issues. If you have any questions about residency’s implications on medical marriages, feel free to ask in the comment section below