JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Wellness is a proactive, dynamic, and multidimensional process that encompasses the physical, social, psychological, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual domains. This is particularly relevant for medical students who must sustain self-management under intense academic and clinical demands.

Objective:

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine the perceived wellness levels of medical students at Süleyman Demirel University and evaluate the associated factors.

Methods:

From 609 volunteer students (mean age 20.7±2.40 years; 59.3% female) enrolled (population N=1622), participants completed a researcher-developed sociodemographic/lifestyle form and the 36-item Perceived Wellness Scale (PWS). Analyses used appropriate parametric/non-parametric tests, correlations, effect sizes and multivariate linear regression.

Results:

The PWS total mean was 4.00±0.66, with high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.909); the highest dimension score was social wellness (4.45±0.80), and the lowest was psychological wellness (3.17±0.67). All dimensions were positively correlated, with the strongest correlation between psychological and emotional wellness (r=0.644, p<0.001). Across academic years, wellness showed a gradual numerical increase up to the 5th year, with a slight decrease in the 6th year; however, year-based differences were generally non-significant, except for physical wellness (2nd vs. 5th year). In regression, the model was significant (F=4.56, p<0.001; adjusted R²=0.119): higher wellness was independently associated with being in the 4th or 5th academic year and exercising, and higher wellness scores were observed among students who reported regular exercise.

Conclusions:

Conversely, psychiatric disorders and physical disabilities were strongly negatively associated, and chronic illnesses showed a borderline negative association. Gender, personal development training, meal frequency, tobacco/alcohol use, living conditions, and financial means were not independent predictors. These findings highlight exercise and targeted support for students with psychiatric or physical health limitations as actionable priorities for student wellness initiatives, while underscoring the interpretive limits of single-center, self-reported cross-sectional data.