LINKING MENTAL STRESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PHYSICAL THERAPY STUDENTS OF KOHAT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Inadequate management of mental stress can lead to significant psychological distress. While physical activity is often cited as a mitigating factor, the precise nature of this relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and mental stress among undergraduate physical therapy students, and to explore how stress levels vary across gender, age, academic semester, and exam history. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted over six months at Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), employing a convenience sampling method. Data from 235 participants were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Institutional permissions and participant consent were obtained. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: The study found that 62.1% (n=146) of participants experienced moderate stress, while 25.5% (n=60) reported high stress. Regarding physical activity, 43.4% (n=102) were minimally active, 31.9% (n=75) were in the Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) category, and 24.7% (n=58) were inactive. Stress was significantly associated with gender, with females reporting higher perceived stress than males (p=0.007). Higher stress levels were also linked to having taken a recent exam, being in the fourth academic semester, and having a mean age of 21.73 years. No statistical association was found between physical activity levels and mental stress (p=0.211). Conclusion: The majority of participants were minimally active and experienced moderate stress, irrespective of their physical activity level. Stress was significantly associated with female gender and recent exam history. However, no direct association was established between physical activity and mental stress in this cohort, suggesting that academic and demographic factors may be more salient contributors to perceived stress in this student population.