{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T08:47:31Z","timestamp":1785746851800,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785715200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara","award":["CS-FS-2026-020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CS-FS-2026-020"]}]},{"award":["CS-FS-2026-020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CS-FS-2026-020"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05ppk0267","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Behav. Sci.","Behavioral Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Social Interdependence Theory posits that cooperative behavior emerges when individuals perceive that their outcomes depend on the actions of others, a dynamic that is central to collaborative learning in medical education. Professional identity formation is recognized as a key developmental process during early medical training; however, quantitative evidence examining its association with collaborative interdependence in preclinical cohorts remains limited. This cross-sectional, correlational, non-experimental study examined the associations between perceived social interdependence and professional identity among 108 fourth-semester medical students enrolled in a Musculoskeletal and Integumentary System course. Professional identity was assessed using the Professional Identity Questionnaire, and social interdependence was measured using the Social Interdependence in Collaborative Learning Scale. To explore the relationship between these constructs, we conducted a series of descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The results indicated generally high levels of professional attachment and a strong sense of belonging to the medical profession. Dimensions of social interdependence, particularly boundary interdependence and collaborative work, showed strong positive associations, while professional identity was also positively related to attachment. Regression analyses further suggested that collaborative work remained independently associated with professional identity after accounting for relevant sociodemographic and vocational factors. These findings indicate that positive interdependence\u2014particularly group cohesion and shared boundaries\u2014is associated with higher levels of professional identity. Strengthening collaborative learning structures in early medical education may support students\u2019 sense of belonging, norm internalization, and commitment to the medical profession.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/bs16081320","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T08:04:59Z","timestamp":1785744299000},"page":"1320","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["From Collaboration to Identity: The Role of Social Norms and Interdependence in Medical Students"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9258-8486","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elvira","family":"Rodriguez-Flores","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6691-2975","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Valentina","family":"Toral-Murillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fernanda","family":"Medina-Vinelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Programa de Servicio Social en Investigaci\u00f3n, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-3138-2168","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Karime Nereida","family":"Valdez-Toral","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Programa de Servicio Social en Investigaci\u00f3n, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Karla Vanessa","family":"Gonzalez-Contreras","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Programa de Semillero Cient\u00edfico, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6871-9052","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yussef","family":"Esparza-Guerrero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yasaman","family":"Gomez-Mazinani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Programa de Servicio Social en Investigaci\u00f3n, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maricela","family":"Casas-Casta\u00f1eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2052-4755","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eli Efrain","family":"Gomez-Ramirez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unidad Acad\u00e9mica de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biol\u00f3gicas, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45129, Mexico"},{"name":"Departamento de Fisiolog\u00eda, Instituto de Terap\u00e9utica Experimental y Cl\u00ednica (INTEC), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"583","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2023.03.003","article-title":"Inferences about interdependence shape cooperation","volume":"27","author":"Balliet","year":"2023","journal-title":"Trends in Cognitive Sciences"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1177\/1088868316657965","article-title":"Functional interdependence theory: An evolutionary account of social situations","volume":"21","author":"Balliet","year":"2017","journal-title":"Personality and Social Psychology Review"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327884mca1301_5","article-title":"Relational interdependence between social and individual agency in work and working life","volume":"13","author":"Billett","year":"2006","journal-title":"Mind, Culture, and Activity"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Butera, F., and Buchs, C. 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