Associations Between Postural Habits, Awareness, and Health Indicators in University Students

Associations of Postural Habits and Awareness With Psychological Status and Physical Health Indicators Among University Students

Posture significantly impacts daily life and physical performance. Poor postural habits and low postural awareness can contribute to musculoskeletal pain, functional impair-ments, and adverse psychological outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the rela-tionships between postural habits and awareness, physical activity, depression, and physical fitness parameters in university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 74 healthy university students (15 males, 59 females), aged 18-35 years. Postural habits and awareness were assessed using the Postural Habits and Awareness Scale (PHAS), physical activity with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Physical fitness parameters included trunk muscle strength (dynamometer), trunk endurance (prone bridge and Sorensen tests), dynamic balance (Y Balance Test), and trunk proprioception (digital inclinometer). Pearson's correlation analysis was used.

The inclusion criteria for the study were:

• Individuals aged between 18 and 35 years,
• Providing written informed consent to participate,
• Having no self-reported history of chronic neurological, orthopedic, or systemic disorders.

The exclusion criteria were defined as follows:

• Presence of a musculoskeletal injury or surgery within the preceding six months,
• Engagement in a structured and regular exercise program (≥3 exercise sessions per week),
• Use of pharmacological agents (e.g., sedatives, analgesics, or vestibular suppressants) that could potentially modulate body awareness or postural stability.