Background Medical school introduces unique challenges to romantic relationships and future life or personal planning. While research on relationships exists for physicians, there remains a significant gap in understanding romantic relationships among medical students. To address this gap, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UMMSM) Wellness Advisory Council initiated a multi-institutional survey study as a student-led wellness initiative.

Methods An anonymous Qualtrics survey covering demographics and history of romantic relationships was distributed to UMMSM and Tulane medical students via email. Outcomes were analyzed to discern differences among students in relationships with partners in medicine, with partners outside medicine, and not in relationships.

Results A total of 326 out of 1564 medical students (21% response rate) completed the survey. Relationship status indicated that 67% were currently in a romantic relationship, while 9% reported no prior relationship experience. Of the 326 respondents, 27% were in relationships within medicine (WM), 40% were in relationships outside medicine (OM), and 33% were not in a relationship (NR).

For WM, on a scale of 1-10 (1 = the least, 10 = the most), the average score for their partner’s support for their medical education was 9.73, family’s support of the relationship was 9.11, and satisfaction for the relationship was 8.60. For OM, the scores were 9.50, 9.13, 8.68, respectively.

For NR, 72% were actively seeking relationships, primarily through friends, dating apps, and social outings. On a scale of 1-10, the average score for the ease of finding time for a relationship was 3.01 and their satisfaction with the search was 2.64. Those not seeking relationships cited reasons like poor timing, career focus, and lack of good options.

No significant differences between WM and OM were found when comparing family’s support and satisfaction with the relationship. However, there was a significant difference in partner’s support of their medical education (p = 0.03).

Conclusion Our study found that medical students generally have high relationship satisfaction despite the challenges of medical school. Both WM and OM students reported strong family support. However, there was a significant difference in perceived support from partners for student’s medical education. Schools should integrate wellness programs to help partners outside of medicine better understand these challenges to bridge the gap. For single students, there is a clear demand for relationships, suggesting that schools could enhance student wellness by facilitating relationship-forming social events.