The relationship between Stress and Musculoskeletal pain in a student population
Item
- Title
- The relationship between Stress and Musculoskeletal pain in a student population
- Author(s)
- Read, S
- Abstract
- Background: Stress and musculoskeletal pain (MSK) affects a significant percentage of students throughout their period of study. This can be elevated by deadlines and exams, which may be increased with personal elements such as, family, finances and lack of sleep. Objective: To synthesise and critically appraise the relevant literature to investigate the relationship between stress and musculoskeletal pain within a student population, and inform the osteopathic educational institutions about what support can be offered and applied to help and offer to their students. Design: Structured literature review. Method: A search of PubMed, Google scholar and Cochrane databases was conducted with keyword search concepts identified from the background literature and Boolean logic. The inclusion factors applied were English literature, research published in a peered review and studies from all areas of research, studies indicating students, stress and musculoskeletal pain. Each study selected was scored for methodological quality using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) scale. The following data was extracted: design, participants, control, main findings and conclusion. Results: Of the 71,176 articles retrieved in the database search, a total of 8 were considered suitable for the inclusion criteria of this review. The literature reviewed here was considered to be of moderate to high quality on the CASP score scale. The control group approached and gauged the response of numerous students, in regards to their stress levels and musculoskeletal pain that they were experiencing at the particular time of recording. Discussion: There is evidence that students do experience and complain of stress and musculoskeletal pain however, the research does not clearly state a definite link between both in order to confirm a full connection. The present study was limited in its generalizability by the low number of studies reviewed. However, the comparison between both topic illustrates greater evidence is required to investigate the sources of stress on musculoskeletal pain. Conclusion: Students do experience high levels of musculoskeletal pain and disorders and within certain regions of the body. However, the link between stress and other psychological factors with musculoskeletal pain and disorders is still debatable due to the lack of research and findings. Additional studies are required to gather a further understanding of the correlation between the topics and make osteopathic institutions aware of how they can become more effective towards the student’s welfare.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2019
- Date Submitted
- 19.11.2019 18:31:09
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16511
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Musculoskeletal, Disorders, Pain, Stress, Students
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Read, S, “The relationship between Stress and Musculoskeletal pain in a student population”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 5, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/318