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Musculoskeletal pain in university students: lifestyle determinants of prevalence and burden
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DOI：10.3389/fpubh.2026.1831482.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
BackgroundMusculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide; yet evidence among young adults remains limited. University students face unique lifestyle risks; including prolonged sedentary study; poor sleep; and excessive screen use. This study aimed to estimate MSP prevalence and burden; compare lifestyle behaviors between students with and without pain; and identify independent predictors of pain occurrence and severity.MethodsA cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among students at Sichuan University; China. A structured lifestyle questionnaire assessed physical activity; diet; sedentary behavior; sleep; screen use; and pain burden across major body sites. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identified risk factors of MSP prevalence and pain burden.ResultsA total of 9; 122 students participated (mean age 21.1 ± 1.7 years; 44.5% female). MSP prevalence was 58.7%; with the neck (43.6%); back (37.1%); and shoulders (36.2%) most affected. Pain burden was considerable; with 22.6% reporting moderate and 18.5% severe pain. Multivariable analysis showed that female gender (OR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.80–2.19); poor sleep (OR = 2.81; 95% CI: 2.26–3.49); poor diet (OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.59–2.10); high sedentary risk (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.10–1.60); long screen duration (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.31–1.69); and low physical activity (OR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02–1.27) were independent predictors of MSP prevalence. For pain burden; poor sleep (OR = 3.72; 95% CI: 2.86–4.83); poor diet (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.66–2.18); high sedentary risk (OR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.42–1.99); long screen duration (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.20–1.55); low physical activity (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02–1.15); and female gender (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.73–2.08) were the strongest predictors.ConclusionMSP is highly prevalent among university students; with a substantial proportion experiencing moderate to severe burden. Lifestyle factors influence both pain occurrence and severity. Poor sleep; poor diet; sedentary behavior; long screen use and insufficient physical activity were consistently associated with higher risk. These findings highlight the need for multidomain but tailored interventions to reduce both prevalence and burden; supporting healthier long-term habits and effective campus health strategies.
Keywords:
musculoskeletal pain
university students
lifestyle behaviors
public health interventions
pain burden
pain prevalence
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