Physician stress is on the rise again

The Physicians Foundation surveyed over 1,000 U.S. physicians from a proprietary database between June 25 and 30 about their current emotional well-being and feelings about mental health.

Overall, 54% of physicians reported that they often have feelings of burnout, a significant decline from the 60% who said the same in 2024. However, physicians are still experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety, with figures rising almost to pandemic-era highs.

Currently, 57% of physicians say they experience inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness, or anxiety — similar to the number who said the same in 2021 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, 46% of physicians said they withdrew from family, friends, or coworkers this year, up from 38% who said the same in 2024.

Commentary

According to Gary Price, president of The Physicians Foundation, the survey "reveals that symptoms of unhealthy stress levels are trending back to levels not seen since the height of the COVID pandemic, in spite of the fact that they eased a little bit in 2024."

Several challenges have likely been contributing to physicians' feelings of stress and anxiety. "Throughout 2025, the U.S. healthcare landscape has been reshaped by significant changes: ongoing consolidation in healthcare, evolving reimbursement models, the widespread rise of mis- and disinformation, and major leadership and policy shifts within agencies, such as HHS, CDC, and NIH, affecting physicians' ability to deliver cost-effective, high-quality care and transforming how physicians practice and engage with their patients," the organization said.

Price added that rising stress levels among physicians "is really worrisome in light of the continuing stigma associated with seeking mental healthcare among many physicians, the additional barriers they face in getting that care, and the very real impact of their emotional well-being on burnout levels, our patients' access to care, the quality of the care they receive, and ultimately the cost of that care."

Overall, Price emphasized the necessity of addressing physicians' well-being, "not just because it's the right thing to do for people who've dedicated their lives to helping others, but it has an incredible financial implication and an implication for our patients."