Risk Factors Associated With Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study of 963 College Students

Gilkey, David P.; Keefe, Thomas J.; Peel, Jennifer L.; Kassab, Osama M.; Kennedy, Catherine A.

doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.12.005

« Previous Next »Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 33, Issue 2 , Pages 88-95, February 2010

Risk Factors Associated With Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study of 963 College Students

David P. Gilkey, DC, PhD
- Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Education, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Col
- Submit requests for reprints to: David P. Gilkey, DC, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Education, 146 EH Bldg, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1681
Thomas J. Keefe, PhD
- Professor, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Col
Jennifer L. Peel, PhD, MPH
- Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Col
Osama M. Kassab, MS
- Head Athletic Trainer, Rocky Mountain Rage Hockey Club, Broomfield, Col
Catherine A. Kennedy, PhD
- Associate Professor, Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Col

Received 30 January 2009; received in revised form 27 July 2009; accepted 29 July 2009.

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate standard measures of health behavior for association with back pain among college students using data from the standardized National College Health Assessment survey. This investigation evaluated potential risk factors among a population of students at a Colorado university.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 963 survey results that were assessed using backward selection logistic regression techniques to evaluate the associations between common college-life health behaviors and back pain occurrence within the past school year.

Results

Thirty-eight percent of college students surveyed reported having back pain within the past school year. Investigators found that univariate associations included multiple domains, but only psychosocial factors remained statistically significant in a final regression model and were associated with back pain. Feeling chronically fatigued (odds ratio, 3.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-13.86) and being in an emotionally abusive relationship (odds ratio, 2.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.69-4.57) were the factors most strongly associated with back pain in the final model.

Conclusions

Psychosocial factors were identified to be associated with back pain. The prevalence of back pain among this younger population is of significant concern and warrants further investigation to identify contributing factors that may help in the development of interventions to reduce the epidemic of back pain within college students and lessen the burden upon college health providers.

Key Indexing Terms: Back Pain, Prevalence, Students, Risk Factors, Chiropractic