Risk Factors to Stress Levels among Physiotherapy Students using Student Inventory Scale at a University in Gauteng Province, South Africa

The study assessed perceived level of stress and risk factors among a cohort of final year physiotherapy students for the 2024 academic year at medical university in Gauteng province, South Africa. 

A cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive study was conducted with a total population sample of 42 physiotherapy students. Participants were recruited during a meeting. Data were collected through a link to the online self-administered questionnaire designed with Microsoft Google Forms. Participation implied consent. The questionnaire was adapted from the Student Stress Inventory Scale edition 20which is divided into four subscales: physical stress, stress from interpersonal relationships, academic stress, and environmental stress. The Cronbach Alpha coefficients for the four subscale were 0.99 for physical, 0.72 for Interpersonal Relationship, 0.85 for Academic, and 0.81 for Environment. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM Corp's Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Software version 25.

The median age of participants was 22 years (iqr± 3.8) with 69,0% of them being females. Perceived stress levels ranged between low (n=24, 57.14%) to moderate (n=18, 42.85%) with females being at risk. Academic (n=27, 64.3%) and environmental (n=24, 57.1%) factors contributed to perceived moderate to severe stress levels whilst physical and interpersonal relationship contributed to low level stress levels equally (n=24, 57.1%).

The study adds to the body of knowledge pertaining to the mental health of students at higher institutions of learning. The study found the severity of stress levels to be slightly below what has been reported in other studies. Attention needs to be directed to female students to develop emotional self-efficacy skills to cope with stress. Of the 4 subscales, academic and environmental factors were attributable as risk factors to the perceived heightened student stress levels.

Early identification of psychosomatic disorders through regular screening with General Health Questionnaire would indicate the need for interventions to prevent psychological and physiological morbidities. The physiotherapy department may introduce Standard Operating Procedures to serve as a protocol to  assess stress levels for all physiotherapy students from first years to final years.  This approach will assist in early referral to student support services for at risk students. In addition, the physiotherapy department may conduct program evaluations that include students' experiences and perceptions in order to incorporate students' views during program evaluations or specific modules.