A quarter of medical students rarely see their friends, report finds

On average, roughly one-quarter of medical students rarely see their friends, according to a new report from Medscape on the lifestyles of medical students. Although sustaining friendships can be a challenge for anyone, medical students are having a hard time fitting these relationships into their packed schedules. Medscape found that first-year students were the most likely to find this challenging, as they are still adjusting to the demands and workload of med school life.

Along with friendships, it is increasingly difficult for students to fit their dating lives in as well, with 59% finding it hard to either make the time or connect with someone who is understanding of their schedule.

However, according to the report, many medical students are prioritizing sleep, with 67% getting at least six to seven hours a night. And nearly 70% have also been able to exercise at least twice a week, with is made more possible by taking their flashcards or books to the gym to study as they work out.

To create the report, Medscape surveyed 738 U.S. medical students between March 25 and June 11, 2024. More than half of the respondents were women, and roughly 40% were men.

When asked, the majority of med students told Medscape that they felt burnout either sometimes, frequently or constantly. Burnout during medical school can impact mental health and academic performance; the majority of students reported that medical school was the leading driver of their burnout. To cope, students most commonly relieve their stress by sleeping, chatting with family and friends, exercising, listening to music, isolating and eating junk food.

By the numbers

The lists below share how many students are finding time to see friends, date, sleep and exercise during medical school. Please note that the statistics below come from self-reported survey results.

How often med students spend time with friends
Constantly: 4%
Frequently: 24%
Sometimes: 47%
Rarely: 23%
Never: 2%

How easy/difficult med students find dating
Very easy: 3%
Easy: 22%
Difficult: 59%
Very difficult: 16%

How often med students exercise
Once a week or less: 22%
Two to three times per week: 46%
Four to five times per week: 17%
Every day: 6%

How much sleep students are getting
Six to seven hours per night: 67%
Four to five hours per night: 20%
Eight or more hours per night: 12%
Three hours or less per night: 1%

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