Association between medical school expectations, professional fulfillment, and mental health among medical students: a mixed-methods study

Abstract

Background: This mixed-method study aimed: (1) to determine associations between medical student training expectations, satisfaction with school-based wellness resources, self-reported wellbeing, professional fulfillment, and commitment to their career choice, and (2) to explore medical students’ perspectives regarding the ways medical schools could better support student wellbeing. Methods: Medical students (N = 715; 60.1% female) from seven Florida medical schools completed an anonymous online survey. Responses were analyzed descriptively and qualitatively. Results: Most students reported a decline in mental health since beginning medical school and indicated experiencing at least one burnout symptom via the Single-Item Burnout Measure. Having unmet training expectations was associated with worsened mental health (ρ = 0.465; p