The Impact of Sport Participation on Mental Health and Physical Fitness Among Medical Students: A Comparative Study of ASMI and FMIOPH Students
Keywords:
medical students, sport, mental health, physical fitness, stress, academic performance, ASMI, FMIOPHAbstract
Background: Medical education is globally recognised as one of the most psychologically demanding academic environments. Students frequently report elevated rates of burnout, anxiety, and depression, often linked to sedentary lifestyles and inadequate self-care strategies. Regular physical activity and sport participation have demonstrated associations with improved mental wellbeing, yet structured comparisons between institutions with differing sporting cultures remain scarce.
Objective: To compare mental health outcomes, physical fitness, sleep quality, stress levels, and academic performance between medical students at Al-Sham Medical Institute (ASMI) and the Faculty of Medicine of the Institute of Postgraduate Healthcare (FMIOPH).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 178 medical students (89 per institution). Validated tools including the GHQ-12, PSS-10, DASS-21, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to assess outcomes. Independent samples t-tests and chi-squared analyses were applied.
Results: ASMI students demonstrated significantly higher physical fitness scores (72.4 ± 9.2 vs. 58.1 ± 11.4, p<0.001), better mental health scores (68.9 ± 10.7 vs. 54.2 ± 12.3, p<0.001), lower perceived stress, and superior academic performance. Sport participation rates were markedly higher at ASMI (68.5% vs. 32.6%, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Regular sport participation is strongly associated with improved mental health, reduced stress, better sleep, and higher academic achievement among medical students. Institutions should embed structured physical activity programmes into the medical curriculum.
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