Personal and external characteristics of motivation and intention to leave among medical residents at a tertiary-care hospital in mexico city, 2026

Abstract

Introduction

Medical residency is a training process characterized by long working hours, rotating shifts, and conditions that may influence physicians’ motivation and retention in specialty training programs. This study aimed to describe personal and external characteristics related to motivation and intention to leave among medical residents at a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico City.

Methods

An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, and prospective study was conducted using non-probability convenience sampling. A sociodemographic and occupational questionnaire was administered along with the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), the 6-item Turnover Intention Scale (TIS-6), and the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21).

Results

The sample comprised 85 participants (n = 85), with a mean age of 29.3 ± 2.3 years; 48 (56.5%) were women. Overall, 69 (81.2%) worked rotating shifts, with a median of 70 working hours per week. Perceived workload was moderate in 37 participants (43.5%) and high in 38 (44.7%). Some degree of stress was identified in 44 participants (51.8%), anxiety in 49 (57.7%), and depression in 47 (55.3%), ranging from mild to extremely severe. The mean TIS-6 score was 16.6 ± 4.1, with higher scores among residents who had considered changing specialties.

Discussion and Conclusions

Our findings showed a higher prevalence of depression (55.3%) and anxiety (57.7%) than that reported by Ángeles-Garay et al. (12.2% and 47.1%, respectively) and Camarillo-Nava et al. (17.0% and 26.5%). Other noteworthy characteristics included long working hours in 81.2% of residents, with a median of 70 hours per week; a predominance of intermediate chronotype (69.4%); and good or very good perceived social support in 89.4% of participants.

Regarding intention to leave, 41.2% (35/85) of participants had TIS-6 scores ≥18, a lower proportion than the 54% reported by Alhenaidi et al. using the same cutoff point. Residents who reported considering a change of specialty also had higher TIS-6 scores. Overall, these findings characterize the coexistence of personal, occupational, and psychosocial characteristics potentially relevant to motivation and retention during medical residency. However, given the cross-sectional design, temporal or causal relationships cannot be established; therefore, the potential role of these characteristics in retention or attrition should be further evaluated in longitudinal studies.