Survey Shows Majority of Physicians Faced Debilitating Stress in Last Year

September 24, 2026

On September 17, The Physicians Foundation released findings from its 2026 survey of America’s physicians, How Practice Conditions Shape Physician Wellbeing, examining differences in wellbeing by employment setting, gender, age, and geography. 

Conducted with Medscape in August 2026 among 1,000 physicians, the survey found that nearly six in 10 physicians (58%) experienced debilitating stress in the past year, with notable differences across physician populations—underscoring that distress is shaped not only by individual experience, but also by the conditions in which physicians practice. 

The survey found: 

• 67% of employed physicians experienced inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness, or anxiety in the past year, compared with 54% of independent physicians. 

• 34% of employed physicians cite organizational policies, productivity expectations, or internal pressures that limit clinical autonomy as a contributor to distress—more than twice the share of independent physicians (13%). 

• Only 23% of female physicians report either a great deal of or complete control over expected patient volume, compared with 36% of male physicians. 

The Physicians Foundation is a public charity seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians, and help them facilitate the delivery of high-quality health care to patients.