Impact of Socioeconomic Determinants on Academic Performance of Medical Students in Lahore, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Academic performance among students is recognized to be significantly influenced by socioeconomic status (SES) with factors such as family income, parental education and home environment profoundly shaping students' academic outcomes. Limited studies have evaluated the role of socioeconomic factors on medical student performance in Pakistan. Objective: This study aims to investigate how family income, parental education, and home environment influence the academic performance of medical students in Lahore, Pakistan Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over six months across public medical institutions in Lahore, Pakistan. Using non-probability convenience sampling, 272 medical students participated in an online survey. The sample size was calculated using Cochran's formula to ensure adequate representation and data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0, applying descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression to assess significant relationships. Results: Among the 272 participants, 54.4% demonstrated high academic performance (above 70%), 33.5% had average performance (60-70%), and 12.1% exhibited low performance (below 60%). Statistical significance was found between family income and academic performance (p < 0.05), with high-income students performing better academically. Conclusion: Findings from this cross-sectional study indicate that socioeconomic factors particularly family income and parental education, significantly impact the academic performance of medical students. Addressing SES disparities through targeted educational policies could support academic equity