Academic Productivity Differences by Gender and Child Age in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine Faculty During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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  • Author(s): Krukowski RA;Krukowski RA; Jagsi R; Jagsi R; Cardel MI; Cardel MI
  • Source:
    Journal of women's health (2002) [J Womens Health (Larchmt)] 2021 Mar; Vol. 30 (3), pp. 341-347. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Nov 18.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101159262 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1931-843X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15409996 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Larchmont, NY : Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., [2002]-
    • Subject Terms:
      Physical Distancing* ; Sex Factors* ; Work-Life Balance*; Biomedical Research/*statistics & numerical data ; COVID-19/*psychology ; Faculty, Medical/*statistics & numerical data; Adolescent ; Adult ; COVID-19/prevention & control ; Career Mobility ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Efficiency ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mathematics ; Medicine ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Technology ; United States/epidemiology
    • Abstract:
      Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most faculty in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) began working from home, including many who were simultaneously caring for children. The objective was to assess associations of gender and parental status with self-reported academic productivity before ( i.e. , mid-January to mid-March 2020) and during the pandemic ( i.e. , mid-March to mid-May 2020). Materials and Methods: STEMM faculty in the United States ( N  = 284, 67.6% women, 57.0% with children younger than the age of 18 years living at home) completed a survey about the number of hours worked and the frequency of academic productivity activities. Results: There was no significant difference in the hours worked per week by gender (men, M [standard deviation, SD] = 45.8 [16.7], women = 43.1 [16.3]). Faculty with 0-5-year-old children reported significantly fewer work hours (33.7 [13.9]) compared to all other groups (No children = 49.2 [14.9], 6-11 years old = 48.3 [13.9], and 12-17 years old = 49.5 [13.9], p  < 0.0001). Women's self-reported first/corresponding author's and coauthor's article submissions decreased significantly between the two time periods; men's productivity metrics did not change. Faculty with 0-5-year-old children completed significantly fewer peer review assignments, attended fewer funding panel meetings, and submitted fewer first authors' articles during the pandemic compared to the previous period. Those with children aged 6 years or older at home or without children at home reported significant increases or stable productivity. Conclusions: Overall, significant disparities were observed in academic productivity by gender and child age during the pandemic and if confirmed by further research, should be considered by academic institutions and funding agencies when making decisions regarding funding and hiring as well as promotion and tenure.
    • Comments:
      Comment in: J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Jul;30(7):1052-1053. (PMID: 34115546)
      Comment in: J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Sep;30(9):1365-1366. (PMID: 34524014)
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    • Grant Information:
      R01 DK107747 United States DK NIDDK NIH HHS; UL1 TR001427 United States TR NCATS NIH HHS; R25 HL126146 United States HL NHLBI NIH HHS; K01 HL141535 United States HL NHLBI NIH HHS
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: gender in STEM; science policy; work-family balance
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20201120 Date Completed: 20210310 Latest Revision: 20220806
    • Publication Date:
      20240105
    • Accession Number:
      PMC7957370
    • Accession Number:
      10.1089/jwh.2020.8710
    • Accession Number:
      33216682