Musculoskeletal Pain in Undergraduate Students Is Significantly Associated with Psychological Distress and Poor Sleep Quality

Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain (MSKP), psychological distress, and poor sleep quality are common among undergraduate university students. Yet, few studies have assessed the association between MSKP and psychological distress and poor sleep quality. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine this association among undergraduate students at a major public university in Saudi Arabia. MSKP was assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, psychological distress using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) questionnaire, and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A total of 339 undergraduate students from various specialties provided complete responses and were included. The most common site of MSKP in the past 12 months and the past 7 days were neck pain (54.6% and 41.9%, respectively) and low back pain (49.4% and 48.2%, respectively). There was no difference in the prevalence of MSKP across colleges. The reported MSKP in the past 12 months and 7 days were significantly associated with the students’ level of anxiety and stress as well as sleep quality (p < 0.05 for all), while depression was only significantly associated with MSKP in the past 7 days.