Young doctors’ moods are affected by major political events

A new study finds that physicians’ moods are affected by major political events. Researchers surveyed more than 2,300 individuals who were first-year medical interns about political events such as the 2016 U.S. presidential election as well as nonpolitical events like the California wildfires. Interns were more likely to report a shift in mood following political events than nonpolitical ones, with the biggest change reported after the 2016 election. The change in mood associated with the election was also greater than the mood decline interns reported right after they first started internships, when they are known to be dealing with a heavier workload and more stress. Women experienced a greater decline in mood than their male colleagues in response to the election and President Trump’s inauguration. Future studies should examine whether physicians in other countries experience similar mood changes, the authors suggest.