Balancing work and maternity roles among women doctors: exploring the relationship between career and family life.

Introduction: The role of mothers has long been the subject of social stereotyping and debate. Psychological and sociological research suggests that women approach this role with a complex ability to multitask, often prioritising family care over career development. Material and methods: For the present study, an anonymous online questionnaire was developed to collect data from 534 female doctors who are mothers ('mother doctors'). The 32-item questionnaire focused on the relationship between their careers and family life, covering demographic information, family configuration, availability of home help, division of household responsibilities and the impact of these factors on their professional life. Results: The study found that the majority of female doctors surveyed (51.7%) stated unequivocally that motherhood had a significant impact on their approach to patients, with 30.7% indicating a moderate impact. The most commonly cited changes at work related to motherhood were a greater understanding of the needs of patients, especially mothers and children (79.1%), as well as increased empathy (59.0%) and changes in communication style (54.7%) with patients. Conclusions: Motherhood represents a profoundly transformative experience in the professional lives of women doctors, the impact of which goes far beyond stereotypical limitations. Accumulating evidence suggests that mother doctors not only become more organised and resilient to stress, but also develop leadership skills that can contribute to the transformation of the healthcare system in Poland. Childcare challenges are one of the most significant barriers to academic success for mother doctors.