Today, women are more likely than men to begin an academic career in psychology. Nevertheless, they leave research substantially more often, particularly during the first years after entering the field. This is the finding of an international study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. The analysis of more than 78,000 academic career trajectories suggests that it is not access to academia, but long-term retention that poses the greater challenge for women.
Unlike in many science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, women have for years constituted the majority of early-career researchers in psychology. Nevertheless, they remain significantly underrepresented in professorships and other senior positions. The new study is the first to investigate, through a global longitudinal analysis, when these differences emerge over the course of academic careers.
“In psychology, women are well represented among doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers, but far fewer reach the highest career levels,” says lead author Xinyi Zhao, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Adaptive Rationality at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. “We wanted to understand when women are more likely to leave academia and which factors are associated with this pattern.”
Higher exit rates early in the career
For the study, the research team analyzed the publication histories of 78,216 psychologists worldwide who began their academic careers between 2000 and 2014. The analysis was based on the Scopus database. Scientific publication activity served as an indicator of an active research career. Researchers who had not published any scientific work for at least five years were considered to have left active research.
The analysis first confirms a well-known trend: More than 60 percent of new entrants into psychological research are now women. Yet, on average, women remain scientifically active for a shorter period than men.
The largest differences appear between the fourth and sixth year after a researcher’s first scientific publication. During this period, the risk of leaving research rises substantially overall—but more sharply for women than for men. The gender gap is most pronounced about five years after the start of a research career.
By the 13th year of their careers, around half of female researchers had stopped publishing. Among men, this point was not reached until about five years later.
Publication output alone does not explain the gender gap
To investigate possible causes, the research team considered a range of factors, including publication output, citations, collaboration networks, and institutional characteristics such as the scientific reputation of the researcher’s institution.
The strongest predictor of long-term retention in research was early publication output. In particular, a high number of first-authored papers—publications for which researchers carry primary responsibility—was associated with a higher likelihood of remaining scientifically active. In later career stages, the number of last-authored papers, as an indicator of scientific independence and leadership responsibility, became more important. Collaboration networks and institutional conditions were also associated with retention, but these relationships were considerably smaller.
Even after these factors were taken into account, women remained more likely than men to leave research. The difference was especially pronounced during the early years of academic careers.
“Our findings should not be interpreted as reflecting differences in scientific potential,” says Zhao. “Rather, they suggest that structural conditions and challenges during certain stages of life influence the career paths of female and male researchers differently.”
Indications of structural causes
Why women are more likely to leave research cannot be established from the available data. Information on starting a family, caregiving responsibilities, or individual career decisions was not available for the analysis.
However, another recent study led by Zhao provides some clues. It drew on a survey of more than 8,000 researchers with children from 119 countries. The results show that early parenthood is associated with greater career disruption for women than for men. Women are more likely to postpone starting a family until after completing their PhD. When parenthood occurs during the doctoral phase, their chances of completing a doctorate, achieving high scientific visibility, and remaining in research on the long term are lower.
“The two studies complement each other,” says Zhao. “Our current work shows when women are more likely to leave research. The survey findings suggest that the challenges of balancing an academic career with starting a family may be an important part of the explanation.”
The research team concludes that science policy should place greater emphasis on the early career phase. Mentoring programs, transparent evaluation procedures, and better conditions for balancing research and family responsibilities could help retain more women in academia on the long term.
The findings draw attention to a previously underexamined aspect of gender equality in academia: While discussions often focus on women’s access to academic careers, the analysis suggests that the decisive barriers emerge later. In follow-up studies, the researchers plan to survey scientists around the world, asking directly about their career decisions and experiences.
At a glance:
78,216 career trajectories analyzed: The study examines the academic careers of psychologists worldwide who began publishing between 2000 and 2014.
Women are well represented at entry into the field: Women account for more than 60 percent of new entrants into psychological research.
Early career phase is decisive: The greatest differences in retention in research become apparent about five years after the first academic publication.
Publication output is important: Early first-authorship in particular increases the likelihood of remaining academically active on the long term.
Gender gap persists: Even when publication output, collaboration networks, and institutional conditions are comparable, women are more likely to leave research than men.
Structural factors likely: The results suggest that other factors—such as starting a family or institutional conditions—influence the career trajectories of female and male researchers differently.
Original publications:
Zhao, X., Thoma, A. I., Hertwig, R., & Wulff, D. U. (2026). Mapping the gender attrition gap in academic psychology. American Psychologist. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0001778
Zhao, X., Derrick, G. E., Sugimoto, C. R., & Larivière, V. (2026). Starting a PhD and becoming a parent: Gendered life-course trajectories in academic careers. Higher Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-026-01668-4
American Psychologist
Data/statistical analysis
People
Mapping the Gender Attrition Gap in Academic Psychology
29-Sep-2026