Category: Science

Burnout: Why Modern-Day Women Are More At Risk Than Men

Georgia Schonberg
September 2025

The term ‘burnout’ emerged in the 1970s, when the psychologist Herbert Freudenberger used it to describe how chronic stress and high expectations in caregiving jobs had impacted his own health ^[1]. Fast forward to 2025, and women are now 23% more likely to face burnout at work than men ^[2]. But why is burnout in women such a growing issue and how can we move forward?

The “Having-It-All” Mentality 

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, as professional opportunities increased, the potential for women to ‘have-it-all’ became idealized. These were unknown territories and left women attempting to juggle a successful career, keep a happy family, and maintain friendships, all at the same time. 

Nowadays, we’re more aware that the ‘having-it-all’ ideal can be overwhelming, but we still feel a pressure to somehow achieve it. Maybe this stems from society and the media praising women who appear to have it perfectly together. Or perhaps it’s more of an internal pressure, conflated by not wanting to waste opportunities previous generations could have only dreamt of.

In the US, mothers still handle 70% of household tasks, from childcare to cooking and cleaning ^[3]. For working mothers, this is known as the ‘second shift’ that takes place late into the evening after their 9-5 finishes. It’s not a new concept, but most workplaces still don’t acknowledge or offer support during these years of working double time. 

For women earlier on in their careers, there’s a different kind of pressure that’s felt from the need to tick off personal and professional goals quickly – to prepare for having children down the line. 

This push to get ahead before motherhood is such a common modern-day experience that there’s now even a ‘pre-baby burnout’ label for it ^[4]. With labels like these popping up more and more, it seems the traditional ideal of “having-it-all” continues to impose unrealistic expectations across each stage of our working lives.

Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is described as a feeling of inadequacy that persists despite evidence of success ^[5]. Those who experience it may attribute their achievements to luck, rather than intelligence, commitment, or hard work. It’s most common in women and minorities ^[6]. 

I’ll admit, I’ve been skeptical of this term. There’s no doubt that I have experienced feelings of inadequacy at work, but is this worthy of a “syndrome” title? Or is it instead linked to a lack of confidence or self-esteem – both of which are normal to feel in high-pressure work environments, regardless of your gender. 

But following more research, I’ve come to accept that the definition of Imposter Syndrome fits my own corporate experience perfectly. It’s not that I have a negative self-perception, but at work I couldn’t shake the feelings of fraudulence; that I had been lucky to get there, and someone would soon see through it ^[7]. For me, this led to overworking, anxiety, and a lack of boundaries. 

A contributing factor to Imposter Syndrome could be a lack of relatable role models. If we can’t see people like us at the top of our fields, or within our families, how can we feel secure in our positions and set healthy workplace boundaries? It’s clear how these feelings and behaviors may lead to burnout if experienced over long periods or without a strong support system around us.

The Remaining Gender Gap 

While opportunities for women in the workplace have grown, we’ve got a long way to go. As of today, only 17% of all new CEOs at S&P500 companies are women, and it’s expected to take another 123 years to close this gap ^[8]. It’s no wonder women feel the need to work harder, longer, and more consistently to get where we want to be. 

This scarcity mindset can also fuel a cut-throat dynamic between women. If all you’ve ever been told is there’s only room for one, but you finally secure a leadership position, surely you’ll do all you can to keep that title, even if it means repeating toxic work patterns. What’s the result? Women are left competing against each other or unsupported by those above them, and the cycle of burnout continues. 

Moving Forward

Burnout can be hard to spot in yourself and even harder to speak up about. Of course, targeting the bigger systemic issues like the gender gap is essential. But with estimates of over 100 years until that’s solved, we should focus on the smaller steps we can take now.

Keep sharing your perspectives on the ‘second shift’, Imposter Syndrome, and other workplace challenges. The more we overcome the fear of sharing, the more these conversations will become easier and respected. Over time, this will help us to gain the remaining recognition, support, and resources needed for women in the workplace.

References

[1] Freudenberger, H. J. (1974). Staff Burn-out. Journal of Social Issues, 30(1), 159-165. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1974.tb00706.x

[2] Nuffield Health. (2022, March 8). Why women are more at risk of burnout. Nuffield Health. https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/article/why-women-are-more-at-risk-of-burnout Nuffield Health

[3] British Psychological Society. (2025, January 23). Mothers report taking the brunt of household mental load. BPS Research Digest. https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/mothers-report-taking-brunt-household-mental-load British Psychological Society

[4] Savin, J (2025, January 6). The pre-baby burnout struggle is real – and its leaving women utterly exhausted. Cosmopolitan. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a63348561/pre-baby-burnout/

[5] Home, J. (2025, September 3). Imposter syndrome. British Medical Association. https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing/insight-and-advice/first-times-in-medicine/imposter-syndrome

[6] British Medical Association. (2025, September 3). Imposter syndrome. BMA. https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing/insight-and-advice/first-times-in-medicine/imposter-syndrome BMA

[7] Psychology Beverly Hills (2022, December 2). Imposter Syndrome vs. Low Self-Esteem: What’s the Difference? https://www.psychologybeverlyhills.com/blog

[8] World Economic Forum. (2025, June 11). Global Gender Gap Report 2025. https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2025/

Cold Water Immersion, Yes or No? 

Harika Maganti
August 2025

Cold plunges and cold showers have long been popular in healthy living circles although originating from traditional practices in many northern cultures. It involves either immersion or showering in cold water for a given period of time. This is done mainly to improve focus, circulation, and many other purported health benefits. However, is it truly helpful for women? Let’s take a plunge into the research and find out.

General Systemic Effects  

The main effect one can notice immediately with a cold shower or plunge is that the body tries to regulate heat production to maintain the normal temperature. So, although at first you might feel cold, after some time the water feels more bearable. What exactly is happening here? Our skin gets heat from the underlying blood vessels (our blood is warm!). When we get exposed to cold, our body first tries to preserve warmth by restricting the vessels, then after a few minutes it dilates the vessels to try and get that area warm again. ^[1] A secondary response to cold exposure is shivering, which attempts to increase heat production by continuous contraction of the skeletal muscles.^[1] This activity in turn increases the body’s metabolism and makes us warmer. Typically shivering starts when the body’s core temperature falls between 36.2°to 36.5° C. ^[1]

Pros and Cons

Now coming to some benefits of cold water immersion, the first noticeable benefits are mental. Many people report that they feel sharper, more alert and focused after just a few minutes, and in a study the participants also had significant positive changes in their mood. ^[7] There is also evidence that regular cold showers can help boost our immunity, specifically through increasing immunoglobulin, interleukin levels, and T-lymphocytes. ^[1] Another key benefit of  cold water immersion is increased  insulin sensitivity due to the changes in fat cells. ^[1] There are also cardio-protective effects in cold-adapted individuals; research participants were found to have reduced levels of homocysteine and oxidative-stress markers in their blood samples. ^[1] So as we can see, this is a practice that can help improve general well-being, but are there any downsides? The answer is yes. Staying in the icy water for too long may lead to hypothermia, but how long is too long? ^[2] That may vary based on a person’s weight, body fat percentage, and other factors. Generally in water at 0°C, it takes less than 30 minutes for the body’s core temperature to decrease to the point of entering into a hypothermic state. ^[2] There are also cardiovascular risks, especially in individuals with pre-existing heart conditions, caused by the shock of icy water leading to arrhythmias and even cardiac arrest. ^[2] And studies show cold water swimming can increase blood pressure and cardiac troponin even in healthy individuals, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. ^[2]  Finally, there is also the risk of drowning when plunging into cold water, caused by the initial shock and subsequent hyperventilation  ^[2]

Effects on Women

Studies show that there are some differences between the genders when it comes to bodily responses to the cold water, men tend to have more of a metabolic response while women tend to have more of an insulative response. ^[1] Meaning men’s bodies increase heat production via shivering while women’s bodies prioritize the basal temperature and reduce the skin temperature. ^[3] This is because women tend to have more body fat, and men tend to have more skeletal muscle. ^[3] Men also have more neuroendocrine and immune responses compared to women. ^[1]  Cold water immersion is used to help muscle recovery after exercise, however a recent study determined that it did not have a similar  effect for women. ^[6] In another small study, it was shown that women tend to have more cardiovascular strain compared to men when doing cold water immersion. ^[4] It’s also interesting to note that general exposure to cold is a factor (among many) that can increase dysmenorrhea. ^[5] In general there are fewer gender-specific studies on the effects of cold water-immersion, so more research is needed to get a clearer picture. 

Conclusion

Cold water immersion is a practice that has the potential to improve our health when done safely, it is best to start small at first and slowly let the body get adapted to the cold water. After all, research indicates that cold adapted individuals tend to experience more benefits compared to others. ^[1] It may be helpful for women to avoid the practice during and a few days before menstruation. People with cardiac conditions should use caution when attempting cold plunges, and should talk to a medical professional before starting. 

References:

[1] Esperland, D., de Weerd, L., & Mercer, J. B. (2022, September 22). Health effects of voluntary exposure to cold water – a continuing subject of debate. International journal of circumpolar health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9518606/#s0003 

[2] Knechtle, B., Waśkiewicz, Z., Sousa, C. V., Hill, L., & Nikolaidis, P. T. (2020, December 2). Cold water swimming-benefits and risks: A narrative review. International journal of environmental research and public health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7730683/#sec14-ijerph-17-08984 

[3] Solianik, R., Skurvydas, A., Vitkauskiene, A., & Brazaitis, M. (2014, May 6). Gender-specific cold responses induce a similar body-cooling rate but different neuroendocrine and immune responses. Cryobiology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S001122401400087X?via%3Dihub 

[4] Tsoutsoubi, L., Loannou, L., Mantzios, K., Ziaka, S., Flouris, A., & Nybo, L. (2022, July 5). Cardiovascular stress and characteristics of cold-induced vasodilation in women and men during cold-water immersion: A Randomized Control Study. Biology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36101432/ 

[5] Wang, L., Yan, Y., Qiu, H., Xu, D., Zhu, J., Liu, J., & Lu, H. (2022, May 3). Prevalence and risk factors of primary dysmenorrhea in students: A meta-analysis. Value in health : the journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35523614/ 

[6] Wellauer, V., Clijsen, R., Bianchi, G., Riggi, E., & Hohenauer, E. (2025, May 7). No acceleration of recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage after cold or hot water immersion in women: A randomised controlled trial. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0322416#:~:text=The%20findings%20of%20this%20study,72%20h%20follow%2Dup%20period. 
[7] Yankouskaya, A., Williamson, R., Stacey, C., Totman, J. J., & Massey, H. (2023, January 29). Short-term head-out whole-body cold-water immersion facilitates positive affect and increases interaction between large-scale brain networks. Biology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9953392/#sec4-biology-12-00211