Life Satisfaction and Extra-curricular Activities among Medical Students at Ain Shams University

Background: A full understanding of life satisfaction (LS) and extracurricular activities
(EAs) participation prevalence and reported participation barriers is imperative to successfully
enhance and support the mental well-being and academic achievement of medical students.
Objectives: To measure the level of life satisfaction using The Multidimensional Students‟
Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS), to measure the percentage of students participating in EAs
among medical students at Ain Shams University, and to identify the relationship between LS,
EAs, and academic achievement among the studied group. Method: a cross-sectional study
was applied on a sample of 240 students using a self-administered questionnaire including
socio-demographic data, faculty related data including average grade, data related to EAs
participation and the MSLSS. Results: Mean life satisfaction score among the studied sample
was 4.0±0.73. Participation in EAs was reported by 42.9% of students, the most frequently
reported EAs (73.8%) was volunteering in health awareness campaigns. Multiple linear
regression analysis revealed that female gender, living alone, being physically active,
spending less free time on the internet not for studying purpose, spending more time with
family and in studying explain about 15% of the variation in life satisfaction (R2 =0.149,
F=2.43, P<0.01) Conclusion and Recommendations: Designing interventions to encourage
students to increase their physical activity and to spend less free time surfing the internet to
promote life satisfaction. Furthermore, integrating EAs in the medical curriculum to boost the
students‟ quality of life, personal development, future career, and mental health.