Factors Influencing Specialty Choice Among Mexican Medical Residents: A Comparative Study of Psychiatry and Core Specialties
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Objective: To analyze the factors influencing the choice of psychiatry compared to other major medical specialties among Mexican residents. Methods: A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted with 300 residents from five core specialties: General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry. Participants completed an online validated questionnaire assessing demographic, motivational, and personality-related determinants of specialty selection. Chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests with Tukey post hoc comparisons were applied (p < 0.05). Results: The mean age was 28.3 years (SD 2.1), and 55% were female. Significant differences were observed among specialties regarding sex distribution (p = 0.002), type of preferred patient, academic interest, and perceived short-term economic prospects. Psychiatry residents scored lower in conscientiousness and higher in extraversion compared with surgery and internal medicine (p < 0.05). Negative role models and exposure to abusive behaviors were major deterrents for choosing surgery. Family background in medicine was more frequent among psychiatry and gynecology residents (48%). Conclusion: Psychiatry choice among Mexican medical residents is influenced by psychosocial, personality, and contextual factors rather than economic motives alone. Understanding these determinants may guide targeted educational strategies to strengthen recruitment and address the shortage of mental health specialists.
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