This study aims to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms (i.e., psychological disorders) among Kuwait University, physical therapy students. Secondly, it sought to identify and assess the correlated risk factors associated with these psychological disorders.
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Kuwait University, where students from the Physical Therapy Department in the College of Allied Health Sciences were chosen through a combination of purposive and convenient sampling, including those in their second, third, and fourth years of study. In order to fulfill the research objectives, a single cross-cultural and validated tool was utilized, which included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21), in addition to the demographic data of the study participants. Descriptive statistics along with ANOVA test were employed to analyze the study results.
This study included 282 male and female students from the second, third, and fourth year of the physical therapy program in the college of Allied Health at Kuwait University. 179 (68.8%) of the participants were found to have depression, while 235 (87.3%) exhibited symptoms of anxiety, and 178 (64.9%) showed signs of stress. Third-year students displayed significantly elevated levels of anxiety in comparison to students in different years of study (p 0.05). Students identified overthinking as the most common stress factor in their lives, followed closely by course load, difficulty sleeping, and future career expectations. Our findings showed that family assistance plays a vital role in influencing mental well-being, with friends also having an impact and faculty members being the least influential.
Our findings indicated that a majority of physical therapy students face high levels of psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, and stress, leading to challenges in their academic pursuits.
The results underscore the significance of enacting strategies that address the distinctive pressures faced by physiotherapy students. Identifying these sources of stress will allow the College of Allied Health Sciences at Kuwait University to create support systems that improve students' mental well-being and ultimately contribute to a more conducive learning environment.
Physical Therapy Students
Kuwait University
