Impact of intimate relationships on medical undergraduate performance and extracurricular activities

Introduction: University students may be influenced by intimate relationships (IR) and extracurricular activities (EA), which can impact academic performance (AP). This study assessed the effects of IR and EA on the AP of medical undergraduates. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 253 medical undergraduates at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Data was collected using an online self-administered questionnaire. AP was evaluated using the cumulative grade point average (cGPA) from the previous semester. Results: Of the 253 participants, 110 (43.5%) were involved in IR and 143 (56.5%) were single; 56.9% were female. Among participants in relationships, 44.5% had partners within the same faculty. There was no significant association between involving in an IR and AP (p=0.651), regardless of the other variables of IR. Most participants (51.8%) believed EA had no impact on AP, and analysis showed no significant association between EA and AP (p=0.394). Economic status of participants was positively associated with their AP (p=0.015). The prevalence of IPV in IR was 18.2% (7.9% of the total sample), with psychological type being the most prominent. Out of those in relationships, 18.2% reported experiencing IPV, of whom 75.0% were male and 25.0% were female, possibly due to underreporting by females. However, there was no significant association between experiencing IPV and AP (p=0.534). Conclusions: Although involvement in IR and EA did not significantly affect AP, the presence of IPV highlights the need for targeted interventions. Males were more likely to report IPV than females, emphasising the importance of support programs.