Parental Expectations and Mental Health Issues: A Cross-Sectional Study of Medical Students

Abstract

The impact of parental expectations on medical students' academic and career paths is becoming more widely acknowledged in the educational system. The medical field is considered to be costly but more fruitful for a developing country like Pakistan. Due to the economic situation, parents wanted their children to select careers with high income for better living and the future. This study filled a significant gap in the literature that measures parental expectations of medical students. This study aims to examine the relationship between parental expectations and mental health issues. A pilot study was carried out with a small group of medical students, also content and face validity were measured to evaluate the items' relevance and intelligibility. The study consisted of a quantitative research design. The data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire by distributing questionnaires to medical students. Nawaz Sharif Medical College was selected for data collection. A proportionate random sampling procedure was employed to select a total sample of 110 respondents. Data analysis, Pearson’s Correlation, and Simple Linear Regression were conducted using SPSS software.  In addition, this research will also improve our understanding of how parental expectations affect students’ academic experiences. This research will help researchers, educators, and policymakers create a plan that helps medical students grow both personally and professionally, which will ultimately lead to better medical education results.