Perceived Stress and Subjective Happiness in Medical Students Before and After a Wellness Speaker Session

TL;DR

A wellness speaker session for medical students was well-received but did not significantly reduce stress or increase happiness in the short term.

Contribution

This study evaluates the feasibility and student perception of a single wellness speaker session in medical education.

Findings

No statistically significant changes in stress or happiness scores were observed after the event.

Most students found the event helpful and reported increased confidence in managing stress.

Student feedback was positive, but views on integrating such events into the curriculum were mixed.

Abstract

Background: Medical students experience psychological stress due to academic workload, thereby leading to a reduction in overall well-being. In response, medical schools are incorporating wellness activities into the curriculum. However, single-session events have not been rigorously evaluated. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a single-session speaker event and examined pre- versus post-event differences in mean stress and happiness scores among survey respondents.

Methods: This study used anonymous, unlinked, pre- and post-event cross-sectional surveys to compare group-level perceived stress and subjective happiness among medical students attending a single-session wellness speaker event. First- and second-year medical students completed validated pre- and post-surveys, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). The 60-min event, which was organized by student investigators, took place in January 2025. Welch’s independent t-tests were used to compare group means. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Post-event perception items were summarized descriptively, and open-ended responses were reviewed for recurring themes.

Results: A total of 76 pre-surveys and 55 post-surveys were collected from 110 first- and second-year medical students. No statistically significant differences were found across PSS or SHS items (p>0.05), and effect sizes were uniformly small (Cohen’s d range: -0.25 to +0.26). Despite the absence of statistically significant quantitative differences, 46/55 (83.6%) students reported that the event was helpful, 31/55 (57%) felt more confident managing stress, and the mean satisfaction score was 7.4/10. Open-ended feedback highlighted the speaker’s relatability. Views were mixed on curricular integration, with 28/55 (50.9%) in favor of including similar wellness events as part of medical school programming.

Conclusion: This pilot study supports the feasibility and acceptability of brief, speaker-based wellness interventions in medical education. While no statistically significant group-level differences were detected in the immediate post-event analysis, student feedback suggests perceived value. Future efforts should explore longitudinal formats with supplemental training events and linked pre- and post-measurement to better assess outcomes and inform curriculum development.

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