Aim: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a common health problem among individuals. It is thought that this disorder may be related to stress in university students. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between MSDs and perceived stress levels (PSL) among students at the University of Health Sciences. Methods: This study, including 90 undergraduate students at Kütahya University of Health Sciences. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). The students were divided into three groups according to their departments (Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation; n= 31, Occupational Therapy; n= 30, Nursing; n= 29) and compared in terms of MSDs and PSL. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25, including ANOVA for group comparisons and Pearson correlation analysis to examine associations. Results: The participants 78.9% were female. The average PSL score was 20.88 ± 4.83. No significant difference was found in PSL among academic departments (p > 0.05). However, occupational therapy students reported significantly higher back and knee pain, as well as overall CMDQ scores (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was identified between PSL and overall musculoskeletal discomfort (r = 0.305, p = 0.003), with the strongest association observed between stress and neck pain (r = 0.402, p < 0.001). Conclusion: MSDs are associated with stress in health sciences students. These findings highlight the need for ergonomic training and stress management strategies to promote physical and mental well-being in this population.
Saraçoğlu et al. (Tue,) studied this question.