Associations between backache and stress among undergraduate students. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ben-Ami, Noa; Korn, Liat
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 68:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Low back pain (LBP) -- undergraduate students -- stress -- depression symptoms; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1515753
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common symptom. It occurs in all age groups from children to the elderly population. Globally, years lived with disability caused by LBP increased by 54% between 1990 and 2015. Our objective was to investigate measures that associate with LBP in students. Participants: A structured, anonymous, self-report questionnaire was distributed in two study years, 2009 and 2015. Participants included 1, 026 students, 57.7% of them female, with a mean age of 27.2 ( SD = 6.4). Methods: The questionnaire included validated questions on various subjects related to health status and health behaviors. Results: The associated factors of undergraduate students experiencing backaches are higher if they engage in smoking (AOR = 2.15; p <.01), report study-based stress (AOR = 2.39; p <.01), and show depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.69; p <.000). Conclusions: Smoking, stress, and depression are strong measures associated with backache in undergraduate students, significantly more than BMI, physical activity, or sedentary behaviors.