E. Leibenluft et al., SEX-DIFFERENCES IN RANK ATTAINMENT AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AMONG ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRISTS, Archives of general psychiatry, 50(11), 1993, pp. 896-904
Data from a survey distributed to all full-time faculty in-academic de
partments of psychiatry were used to examine possible sex differences
in research activities and rank attainment among psychiatrists. A tota
l of 1923 psychiatrists responded, 1564 men (81.3%) and 359 women (18.
7%). Continuous dependent variables were analyzed by using analyses of
covariance with the year graduated from medical school as a covariate
. For categorical dependent variables, the sample was divided into fou
r 10-year cohorts based on the year graduated from medical school, and
differences between men and women were analyzed with chi2 tests. Over
the entire sample, men were more likely than women to have had resear
ch training, to have ever been principal investigators on peer-reviewe
d grants, to mentor research trainees, to be currently involved in res
earch activities, and to meet defined criteria as a ''researcher.'' Ma
ny gender differences remained significant after controlling for senio
rity and research training. In every cohort, the men had attained high
er academic rank than the women. In general, differences in research a
ctivity and productivity were most marked in the youngest cohort. To e
nsure a rich talent pool for psychiatric research, efforts must be mad
e to recruit and support researchers from among the increased number o
f women in psychiatry.