Somatic Symptoms and Depression in Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Somatic Symptoms and Depression in Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional, community-based study aimed to investigate the association between depression and somatic symptoms among physical therapy students in Egypt. Using validated tools-the PHQ-9 for depression and PHQ-15 for somatic symptoms-data were collected from undergraduate students through an online questionnaire distributed via social media. The study included students aged 19 to 24 from various Egyptian governorates. Results revealed a notable correlation between depressive symptoms and the severity of physical complaints, highlighting the need for increased mental health support and early screening strategies within physical therapy education programs.

This study is a cross-sectional, community-based investigation designed to explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and somatic complaints among undergraduate physical therapy students in Egypt. Given the increasing academic and psychological pressures faced by health sciences students, particularly those in physically and mentally demanding fields such as physiotherapy, understanding how mental health issues manifest physically is essential for early identification and intervention.

The study was conducted over one week in February 2025, shortly after the start of the academic semester. Participants were recruited through a self-administered online questionnaire shared via social media platforms. The inclusion criteria focused on physical therapy students aged 19 to 24 years, currently enrolled in Egyptian universities. Exclusion criteria included prior psychiatric diagnosis, chronic physical illness, and incomplete responses.

Data collection tools included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depressive symptoms and the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) to assess the severity and frequency of somatic symptoms. Demographic data and potential influencing factors such as relationship status and plans for part-time work were also recorded.

Ethical approval was obtained from the EG PHYSIO Scientific Committee (Approval Number: EGPHYSIO-SC-001), and the study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration ID: NCT06820814). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 22, with correlation tests used to examine the association between depression scores and somatic symptom severity. Findings from this study aim to inform future strategies for mental health screening, academic support services, and targeted interventions for physiotherapy students in Egypt.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Medical students currently enrolled in Egyptian universities (public or private).
• Aged between 19 and 24 years.
• Able to read and understand Arabic or English.
• Provided informed consent to participate in the study.
• Completed all sections of the online questionnaire.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Students previously diagnosed with a major psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).
• Students with chronic physical illnesses that may independently cause somatic symptoms (e.g., fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease).
• Incomplete or duplicate responses to the online questionnaire. Participants who declined to provide informed consent.