From social relationships to social support: facilitating workshops to enhance widening participation students’ sense of belonging at medical school

Abstract

Medical students from underrepresented or widening participation (WP) backgrounds often feel isolated and lack a sense of belonging in Higher Education (HE) and medical school. Frequently, they have competing demands on their time, which can result in fewer opportunities to meet peers from similar backgrounds. In a previous article, we demonstrated how workshops facilitated by staff and WP graduates helped to increase current WP medical students’ self-efficacy and sense of belonging. This paper expands on previous findings by exploring the impact of these peer relationships on participants’ Social Support.

Focus groups were held with 15 participants who had attended the workshops. The focus group transcripts were iteratively coded and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. A secondary deductive analysis was then undertaken using a theoretical framework adapted from Williams et al.’s (2004) composite definition of Social Support.

Eight key themes pertaining to the nature and benefits of the peer relationships were identified within two primary Social Support Theory categories of social relationships and supportive resources. An additional theme of intimate resources, denoting the authentic sharing of personal experiences and concerns with others, was instrumental for both categories. Intimate resources and the themes within the Social Support categories build upon each other to create a sense of belonging.

The inclusive environment of the workshops supported the creation and strengthening of relationships between medical students and graduates from underrepresented backgrounds. Our participants found that the accessible and reciprocal relationships they formed with these relatable peers and role models enhanced their sense of belonging through providing a unique combination of resources and emotional support.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Rebecca Bartlett: orcid.org/0000-0001-6843-9448

ORCID for Sally Curtis: orcid.org/0000-0002-8026-6284

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