The relationship between perceived stress and asthma symptoms among public universities students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Abstract Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent and fluctuating airflow limitations. The objective of the study was to assess the association between stress and asthma symptoms among students enrolled at public universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methodology...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Discover Social Science and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-025-00170-z |
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| Summary: | Abstract Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent and fluctuating airflow limitations. The objective of the study was to assess the association between stress and asthma symptoms among students enrolled at public universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted, utilizing the Arabic-validated questionnaires of the asthma control test (ACT), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) as the primary instrument for data collection. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio software. Appropriate ethical guidelines were followed throughout the research process. Results The study included 156 public university students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The participants were predominantly female (84.0%) with a median age of 21 years. Using PSS, 3.2% had low, 80.1% had moderate, and 16.6% had high perceived stress levels. In total, 127 participants (81.4%) reported experiencing respiratory symptoms. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status, students with high perceived stress were found to be more likely to report respiratory symptoms compared to those with moderate stress (OR: 6.85, 95% CI 1.20–130.0). This demonstrated a significant association between increased stress and asthma related symptoms. Conclusion High perceived stress levels were associated with respiratory symptoms. These findings should be utilized to build strategies for improving the management and control of asthma symptoms in this population. |
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| ISSN: | 2731-0469 |