#MedToo: A Large-Scale Examination of the Incidence and Impact of Sexual Harassment of Physicians and Other Faculty at an Academic Medical Center

Abstract

Background: A landmark National Academies report highlighted the need for rigorous evaluation of sexual harassment in medicine. We examined the prevalence and impact of sexual harassment using the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire, the standard for measurement of sexual harassment, but which has not been previously applied within academic medicine. Materials and Methods: A 20-minute online survey was administered to all faculty who had been working at University of Michigan Medical School for at least 1 year (n = 2723). We assessed sexual harassment within the past year from insiders (i.e., from staff, students, and faculty) and from patients and patients' families. We also evaluated mental health, job satisfaction, sense of safety at work, and turnover intentions. Results: In the final sample (n = 705; which included 25.9% of the originally targeted population), most respondents, 82.5% of women and 65.1% of men, reported at least one incident of sexual harassment from insiders in the past year; 64.4% of women and 44.1% of men reported harassment from patients and patients' families. The most frequently experienced dimension of sexual harassment for women and men was sexist gender harassment. Increased experiences of harassment were independently associated with lower mental health, job satisfaction, and sense of safety at work, as well as increased turnover intentions, with no significant interactions by gender. Conclusions: Sexual harassment against medical faculty is alarmingly common at an institution that is not expected to be atypical. Interventions must address sexual harassment, which affects mental health and career outcomes of male and female physicians.

Sexual harassment and suicide

“…The authors’ findings are consistent with previous studies of sexual harassment. Although estimates vary, sexual harassment is highly prevalent 2. Other studies have identified serious physical and mental health sequelae of sexual harassment 34.…”

Sexual Victimization of Women Police and Its Deleterious Impact on the Victims: A Thematic View

“…Another study by Vargas et al examined incidences and Impacts of Sexual Harassment of Physicians and other Faculty at an Academic Medical Center. The study revealed that increased harassment experiences were independently associated with lower mental health, job satisfaction, a sense of safety at work, and increased turnover intentions, with no significant interactions by gender (Vargas et al 2020). Another study entitled Sexual Harassment in Law Enforcement Incidence, Impact, and Perception found that general job stress, frustration, trauma outside of the workplace, were the ill effects of harassment (Lonsway, Paynich & Hall, 2013).…”

Sexual Harassment Is an Occupational Hazard

“…Although the consequences of trauma are well studied, 9 we lack the same depth of information about the specific consequences of sexual harassment. 10 Vargas et al 3 report an association of lower mental health, job satisfaction, and feeling of safety at work with sexual harassment in both female and male participants. A cross-sectional study will not allow establishing causality, but these associations and patterns are recurring.…”

“…If 60%-80% of the workforce is affected, the perpetrators cannot be few. Second, if employees are explicitly asked about the identity of perpetrators, insiders are most frequently mentioned, in Vargas et al 3 and other studies 6 with the only exception of emergency rooms. 7 It is important to acknowledge patients and their families as perpetrators, 8 but the main source of harassment are insiders, colleagues, and superiors.…”