Associations of age and gender differences with career aspirations and burnout among Chinese undergraduate dental students

Abstract

Introduction This cross-sectional study sought to explore associations of age and gender with career aspirations and burnout symptoms among undergraduate dental students in China. Methods An online survey was distributed to 240 subjects in December 2025, targeting current undergraduate dental students at Chinese universities. The survey outcomes included variables related to career choice and specialization plans. Additionally, the Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire (BCSQ-12) was selected to estimate the burnout of the respondents. Chi-squared test was used to compare career aspirations across different age and gender groups. For burnout symptoms, an independent samples t -test was applied to compare burnout scores between male and female students and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test score differences across three age strata. Results Females were more likely to recognize male career advantages than males. Significant age differences were observed in intention to specialize in dentistry and influence of gender on career success. For the first specialty choice in dentistry, younger and female respondents are more likely to choose Orthodontics and Endodontics, while male and older subjects prefer Prosthodontics, Oral implantology, and Oral and maxillofacial surgery. Among the 240 subjects, the scores for overload, lack of development, and neglect were 10.75 ± 4.98, 11.04 ± 2.97, and 8.21 ± 3.86, respectively. Significant age-group differences were found in the overload and neglect of burnout, with older students scoring higher on these two domains, while no age variation was detected for lack of development. No statistically significant gender differences were identified across all three BCSQ-12 burnout dimensions. Discussion Age correlates with career perceptions, specialization willingness and two burnout subscales, whereas gender only affects perceptions of gender-related career success with no significant burnout differences. By confirming these specific gender and age-related issues, corresponding strategies can be developed and implemented to enhance the environment of dental education.