Gender Composition of Authors in Japanese Physical Therapy Journals: Association with the Gender of First and Senior Authors

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the participation status of women researchers in academic publications within the field of physical therapy in Japan. [Participants and Methods] A total of 1,296 original articles published in Japanese-language physical therapy journals in 2011, 2012, 2021, and 2022 were analyzed, and the gender of each author was identified using publicly available information. [Results] Women accounted for 17.1% of all authors, 16.0% of first authors, and 11.1% of senior authors, a persistently low level with no significant change over the decade. Articles with both first and senior authors being men comprised 75.5%, whereas those with both authors being women accounted for only 2.6%. Regression analysis revealed that articles with women as first and/or senior authors were significantly associated with a higher proportion of women contributors. [Conclusion] Participation of women in senior authorship positions was associated with a greater overall proportion of women within research teams, suggesting that women’s involvement in leadership roles may contribute to promoting gender diversity in the field of physical therapy.