Gender-stratified analysis of psychosocial factors and physical function in higher education students with musculoskeletal pain

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of psychosocial factors in higher education students with musculoskeletal pain and whether these factors are associated with physical function. Materials and methods: Participants were higher education students with musculoskeletal pain. The data were collected using questionnaires: the Patient-Specific Functional Scale, the Short Form of the & Ouml;rebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (& Ouml;MPSQ-SF) and the Mental Health Index (MHI-5). The associations were analysed using a generalised linear model, adjusted for the region of Finnish Student Health Service in Finland, age, level of education and field of study. Results: A total of 242 women and 104 men (N = 346, mean age 28 +/- 8 years) participated in the study. The prevalence of psychosocial factors varied from 16% to 25% among women and 14% to 18% among men, depending on the measurement tool used. Psychosocial factors were associated with lower physical function in women (p = .011) and men (p < .001) when measured with & Ouml;MPSQ-SF, but not with MHI-5. Conclusions: Psychosocial factors are prevalent among higher education students experiencing musculoskeletal pain. Furthermore, psychosocial factors exhibit an association with lower physical function when assessed using the & Ouml;MPSQ-SF but not when using the MHI-5. These findings emphasise the importance of addressing psychosocial factors through screening in direct access physiotherapy.