"I have established this support network": How Chosen Kin Support Women Medical Students During their First Two Years...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Sociology of Health
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Women medical students face unique stressors due to the historically male-dominated (androcentric) structure of medical education.
• Navigating the powerful and often marginalizing culture of medical school presents significant challenges for female students.
• Understanding these experiences is vital for improving support systems and student well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how women medical students navigate their experiences during the first two years of medical school.
• To identify the support systems utilized by women medical students.
• To explore the role of social connections in mitigating the challenges of medical education.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal qualitative study design was employed.
• Narrative inquiry and a critical lens were used to analyze data.
• Seventeen women medical students were followed over their first two years of medical school.

Main Results:

• Participants identified two key support groups: relationships formed within medical school and those maintained outside.
• A "kinship framework" emerged, describing chosen kin who provide essential support.
• Support from within included mutual recognition, belonging, encouragement, and relationship building; support from outside provided stability and identity reinforcement.

Conclusions:

• The concept of "chosen kin" offers a valuable framework for understanding social support among women medical students.
• Integrating kinship models into medical education can provide essential support, prevent burnout, and enhance student well-being.
• This approach can contribute to a cultural shift in medical training, aligning self-care with patient care.