Objective: To assess the relationship between psychological wellbeing and academic performance among undergraduate dental students.
Methods: The analytical, cross-sectional study was done at a dental college in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to July 2023, and comprised dental students after getting approval from Ethical Review Committee. Data on psychological wellbeing was collected using a short version of the Psychological Wellbeing Scale, assessing autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and selfacceptance. Academic performance data was obtained from the academic records. Data was analysed using SPSS 26.
Results: Of the 210 students with mean age 23.8 ± 7.4 years, 158(75.2%) were females and 52(24.8%) were males. There were 151(71.9%) subjects who were second-generation medical students, while 59(28.1%) were firstgeneration students. There was a significant positive correlation between psychological wellbeing and academic performance (r= 0.55, p<0.05). Females outperformed the male students (p<0.05). Students who reported higher levels of satisfaction with the institution exhibited improved academic performance (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Promoting wellbeing and providing support for students' emotional and psychological needs should be integral components of dental education.
Keywords: Academic performance, Psychological wellbeing, Undergraduate dental students..