Assessing the Impacts of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Perceived Stress Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Pakistan

Completed

• Conditions: Mental Health; Perceived Stress; Physical Activity

• Registration Number: NCT06778889
• Lead Sponsor: Rawalpindi Medical College

Brief Summary

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to understand how physical activity affects mental health and perceived stress in undergraduate medical students in Pakistan. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does physical activity improve the mental health of medical students? Does physical activity lower the stress levels of medical students?

Researchers will compare students who engage in physical activity to those who do not to see if physical activity improves their mental health and reduces stress.

Participants will:

Complete surveys about their mental health and perceived stress. Report their physical activity levels, including how often they exercise and for how long.

This study will help identify how lifestyle changes, like exercising, can improve the well-being of medical students and potentially reduce the challenges they face during their education.

Detailed Description

Detailed Description

This observational, cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between physical activity and its effects on mental health and perceived stress among undergraduate medical students in Pakistan. The study aims to determine whether engaging in regular physical activity can improve psychological well-being and reduce perceived stress in this population, which is known to face significant academic and personal stressors during their medical education.

Study Objectives and Rationale

Medical students encounter a variety of stressors, including demanding coursework, clinical responsibilities, and personal challenges. This study aims to provide a quantitative assessment of how physical activity can mitigate these stressors and improve mental health outcomes. It hypothesizes that students engaging in higher levels of physical activity will exhibit better mental health and lower perceived stress.

Study Design and Methodology

Study Design:

Observational, cross-sectional study. Data collected at a single time point using validated self-reported questionnaires.

Study Setting:

The study was conducted in both public and private medical colleges across Pakistan, providing a diverse sample of participants.

Data Collection Tools:

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-7): Used to measure physical activity levels, categorized as low, moderate, or high based on MET-minutes per week. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10): Used to quantify perceived stress levels. Scores are categorized as low (0-13), moderate (14-26), and high (27-40). Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18): Measures psychological distress, including somatization, depression, and anxiety, with a composite Global Severity Index (GSI).

Data Collection Procedure:

Participants were invited to complete online surveys distributed via Google Forms. Data collected included demographic information, physical activity habits (frequency, intensity, duration), stress levels, and mental health status. All participants provided informed consent, and confidentiality was maintained throughout the study.

Data Analysis Plan:

Descriptive statistics: Used to summarize participant demographics, activity levels, and mental health profiles. Inferential statistics: Chi-square tests to assess associations between physical activity levels and stress/mental health outcomes. Regression analysis to examine the predictive role of physical activity on mental health and perceived stress, adjusting for confounding factors such as age, gender, and academic year.

Study Duration:

The study was conducted over six months, with data collection completed within this timeframe. Key Technical Considerations The IPAQ-7 questionnaire quantifies physical activity in MET-minutes per week, allowing categorization into low (\<600 MET-minutes/week), moderate (600-3000 MET-minutes/week), and high (\>3000 MET-minutes/week) activity levels. The BSI-18 generates individual scores for somatization, depression, and anxiety, and calculates a composite GSI score (range: 0-72), where higher scores indicate greater psychological distress. Statistical analysis will control for potential confounders, ensuring robust interpretation of results. Significance and Potential Impact

This study will provide evidence on how physical activity can improve mental health and reduce stress among medical students in Pakistan, a population particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges. Findings may inform the development of interventions and institutional policies that integrate physical activity into student support systems to promote psychological well-being and academic success.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-02-02
• Primary Completion: 2024-10-02
• Study Completion: 2024-10-02
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-01-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-01-14
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-14
• Study First Posted: 2025-01-16
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-16

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 291

Inclusion Criteria

• Undergraduate medical students from any academic year.
• Students who are willing to participate and provide informed consent.
• Students who engage in physical activity (any frequency or duration) within the last month

Exclusion Criteria

• Students who do not provide informed consent.
• Students with physical disabilities or medical conditions that prevent participation in physical activity (e.g., severe cardiovascular conditions, musculoskeletal disorders).
• Students with a diagnosed mental health disorder that may interfere with the study's focus on stress and mental health (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder).
• Students with language barriers.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mental Health Status of Undergraduate Medical Students	Data have been collected once during the survey period, which spans from February 2 to October 2, 2024.	The primary outcome measure is to assess the mental health status of undergraduate medical students using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), which assesses psychological distress across three subscales: anxiety, depression, and somatization. The BSI-18 uses a 5-point Likert scale, where 0 = "not at all" and 4 = "extremely," to measure each symptom's intensity.; The Global Severity Index (GSI) is calculated from the total score across all subscales, with higher scores indicating higher distress. The subscale scores for anxiety, depression, and somatization range from 0 to 24, where higher scores reflect greater psychological discomfort.; Minimum value: 0 (indicating no distress)Maximum value: 24 (indicating extreme distress); In addition to raw scores, the BSI-18 also provides T-scores (mean = 50, SD = 10) for each subscale, allowing for comparison across populations regardless of their distribution. Higher T-scores indicate more significant distress.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Perceived Stress Levels among Undergraduate Medical Students.	Data have been collected once during the survey period, which spans from February 2 to October 2, 2024.	The secondary outcome measure is to assess the perceived stress levels of undergraduate medical students using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), which assesses perceived stress over the past month. The PSS-10 includes 10 items rated on a 5-point scale (0 = "never" to 4 = "very often"). The total score ranges from a minimum value of 0 (indicating no perceived stress) to a maximum value of 40 (indicating very high perceived stress). Higher scores represent worse outcomes, reflecting greater levels of perceived stress. The interpretation is as follows: Low stress: 0-13 Moderate stress: 14-26 High stress: 27-40

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Karachi medical and dental college; 🇵🇰 Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan