Students' Perceptions of Learning Environment and Leisure-Time Exercise in Medical School: Does Sport Background Matter?

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Sporting Activity as Intervention: Effects on Burnout, Anxiety, Perceptions, and Experiences

Abstract

We examined relationships between medical students’ sport background and their perceptions of the learning environment and leisure-time exercise. Survey data were collected from medical students (n=200) at a large Canadian university. ANOVA and correlational analysis were performed. Students with team sport background reported the highest satisfaction of the need for relatedness in the medical program. Students who pursued sports at higher levels of involvement (competitively) perceived the medical program as more autonomy-supportive than students who pursued sports at lower levels of involvement (recreationally). Students with sport background engaged in leisure-time exercise in medical school to a greater extent than students with no sport background. The findings could help inform curricular initiatives in addressing suboptimal wellbeing of medical students.

Authors

• Oksana Babenko, University of Alberta

• Amber Mosewich, University of Alberta

• Janelle Sloychuk, University of Alberta