Resilience, Mental Toughness, and Physical Activity Levels: A Survey of Doctors From Different Generations and Specialities

Background How mental and physical attributes differ between doctors of different generations and specialities is undetermined. We aimed to compare how resilience, mental toughness, physical activity levels, and career satisfaction vary between medical professionals of different generations, specialities, career stages, practice settings, and genders. Methodology This was an electronic survey study that compared the Brief Resilience Score (maximum six points), Mental Toughness Index (maximum 56 points), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and career satisfaction (0-100 scale) between doctors and medical students at two affiliated teaching hospitals. All data are presented as median (interquartile range). Results In total, 289 medics responded. Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) (4.2 (3.7, 4.8)) were more resilient than Generation Z (born 1997-2012) (3.8 (3.2, 4.0), p=0.0007), Millennials (born 1981-1996) (3.8 (3.3, 4.2), p=0.0091), and Generation X (born 1965-1980) (4.0 (3.5, 4.2), p = 0.0354). Generation Z (42 (39, 46)) were less mentally tough than Millennials (44 (41, 47), p=0.0330), Generation X (46 (41, 48), p=0.0062), and Baby Boomers (46 (43, 52), p=0.0005). Millennials were less mentally tough than Baby Boomers (p=0.0199). Generation Z were more physically active than Generation X (1,822 (1,052, 3,662) vs. 1,542 (777, 2,586), p=0.0383). Generation Z had lower career satisfaction than Millennials (73 (58, 80) vs. 80 (70, 89), p=0.0094), Generation X (85 (75, 90), p