Psychosocial factors and physical function in higher education students with musculoskeletal pain attending direct access physiotherapy: An observational longitudinal study
Riska, Heidi; Karppinen, Jaro; Heikkala, Eveliina; Nikander, Riku; Villberg, Jari; Hautala, Arto J (2025-04-18)
Taylor & Francis
18.04.2025
Riska, H., Karppinen, J., Heikkala, E., Nikander, R., Villberg, J., & Hautala, A. J. (2025). Psychosocial factors and physical function in higher education students with musculoskeletal pain attending direct access physiotherapy: An observational longitudinal study. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2025.2494113
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
© 2025 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
© 2025 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202504222797
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202504222797
Tiivistelmä
Abstract
Introduction:
Musculoskeletal pain and mental health problems commonly coexist in students, potentially impacting physical function. However, there is a lack of follow-up studies investigating the relationship between changes in psychosocial stress and physical function among higher education students.
Objective:
We examined whether psychosocial factors at baseline or the change in psychosocial profile over 3 months were associated with physical function at a 3-month follow-up in higher education students with musculoskeletal pain.
Methods:
Participants were students attending direct access physiotherapy due to musculoskeletal pain (n = 133). Psychosocial factors were measured with the Short Form of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ-SF), and with the Mental Health Index (MHI-5). Physical function was measured using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale. The associations were analyzed using linear regression analysis adjusted for gender and age.
Results:
A higher load of psychosocial factors, measured by the ÖMPSQ-SF at baseline, was associated with lower physical function at the 3-month follow-up, regression coefficient beta (ß) −0.557, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−1.04, −0.08]. No association was found between physical function and the MHI-5. The median of the ÖMPSQ-SF score decreased seven points (p < .001) between the baseline (32, interquartile range (IQR) 25–42) and 3-month follow-up (25, IQR 17–38). A reduction in the ÖMPSQ-SF score was associated with better physical function at 3 months (ß −0.332; CI 95% −0.50 to −0.16).
Conclusion:
A reduced psychosocial load over three months is associated with better physical function in students with musculoskeletal pain. Addressing psychosocial factors appears to be important in direct access physiotherapy for patients with reduced physical function.
Introduction:
Musculoskeletal pain and mental health problems commonly coexist in students, potentially impacting physical function. However, there is a lack of follow-up studies investigating the relationship between changes in psychosocial stress and physical function among higher education students.
Objective:
We examined whether psychosocial factors at baseline or the change in psychosocial profile over 3 months were associated with physical function at a 3-month follow-up in higher education students with musculoskeletal pain.
Methods:
Participants were students attending direct access physiotherapy due to musculoskeletal pain (n = 133). Psychosocial factors were measured with the Short Form of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ-SF), and with the Mental Health Index (MHI-5). Physical function was measured using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale. The associations were analyzed using linear regression analysis adjusted for gender and age.
Results:
A higher load of psychosocial factors, measured by the ÖMPSQ-SF at baseline, was associated with lower physical function at the 3-month follow-up, regression coefficient beta (ß) −0.557, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−1.04, −0.08]. No association was found between physical function and the MHI-5. The median of the ÖMPSQ-SF score decreased seven points (p < .001) between the baseline (32, interquartile range (IQR) 25–42) and 3-month follow-up (25, IQR 17–38). A reduction in the ÖMPSQ-SF score was associated with better physical function at 3 months (ß −0.332; CI 95% −0.50 to −0.16).
Conclusion:
A reduced psychosocial load over three months is associated with better physical function in students with musculoskeletal pain. Addressing psychosocial factors appears to be important in direct access physiotherapy for patients with reduced physical function.
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