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

NCT ID: NCT06778889

Last Updated: 2025-01-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 291 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-02-02
• Study Completion Date: 2024-10-02

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.

Conditions

Mental Health; Perceived Stress; Physical Activity

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

Undergraduate Medical Students

This cohort consists of undergraduate medical students enrolled in the medical program. They will be assessed for their physical activity levels, perceived stress, and mental health.

Undergraduate Medical Students

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

This is an observational study without any intervention. Data will be collected using standardized questionnaires to assess physical activity, mental health, and stress levels in the participants.

Interventions

Undergraduate Medical Students

This is an observational study without any intervention. Data will be collected using standardized questionnaires to assess physical activity, mental health, and stress levels in the participants.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Rawalpindi Medical College

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Nazeer Ahmed

Final year medical student

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Nazeer Ahmed, MBBS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Karachi medical and dental college karachi Pakistan

Locations

Karachi medical and dental college

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Study Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

Data and supporting documents, including the study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and anonymized data set, will be available upon request to the corresponding author (email: nazeermed313@gmail.com) starting \[insert date\]. Requests will be reviewed based on a valid research purpose and agreement to use data ethically

View Document

Other Identifiers

KMDC-PA-MH-2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id