Mapping the gender attrition gap in academic psychology.

Abstract

Women comprise the majority of students and early-career scholars in psychology, yet they are less likely to remain active in research over time. This pattern raises a central question: At what stages of academic careers do women disproportionately leave academia, and what factors drive their attrition? Using large-scale bibliometric data tracking 78,216 psychologists who began publishing between 2000 and 2014, we examine gender differences in research career attrition operationalized through publishing activity across the full trajectory from entry onward. Although women accounted for more than 60% of new entrants, they experienced higher attrition rates than men, with the gender gap peaking approximately 5 years after first publication. Early-career performance-particularly first-authored publications-was the strongest predictor of subsequent retention, whereas last-authored publications were most closely associated with continued activity at later-career stages. Collaboration patterns and institutional context also shaped career persistence, though less strongly than publication indicators. Notably, gender differences in research attrition persisted even after accounting for these career determinants, especially during early-career stages. These findings suggest that gender inequality in psychology is driven less by recruitment than by differential retention over time. Addressing early-career vulnerability may therefore be essential to achieving equitable representation in senior academic leadership within the discipline. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. American Psychologist, 2026 · DOI ↗