Leaving Academia: Dual-Career Relationships and Partners' Attrition from Academic Careers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

More than one third of academics are coupled with another academic, with more women being in such dual-career relationships. Little is known about how these couples' experiences affect their attrition from or persistence in academia.

Methods

We analyzed survey data of academics at 100 U.S. colleges and universities to answer two research questions: (1) Among all academic partners, who are the most likely to abandon their desired academic careers in terms of their gender, race, and field? (2) What effects does leaving academia have on those partners' career outcomes?

Results

We found that 22% of aspiring academics in academic relationships leave that career pathway. One third leave for personal reasons, including to prioritize their partner's career. When pa

SUBMITTER: Fisher JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12415177 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature