Perceived stress and bruxism in university students

BACKGROUND

Many studies have shown the correlation between bruxism and stress that affects the quality of life of university students. The present study highlights this correlation-for the first time-in a group of university students in Italy.

METHODS

We have investigated the prevalence of awake and asleep bruxism and its correlation with perceived stress in a group of 278 Italian undergraduate students (117 M). A self report questionnaire was constructed using a socio-demographic test, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the item n. 8 of the Fonseca Questionnaire for presence of bruxism.

RESULTS

The perceived stress score using PSS-10 scale was 32.2 (SD 4.6, 95% CL 31.6-32.7) for all the subjects, with significant gender difference: M = 31.2 and F = 32.9 (P = 0.0019). The prevalence for awake bruxism was 37.9% (F = 40.8%; M = 34.2%,), while for sleep bruxism was 31.8% (F = 33.3%; M = 29.1%), both without significant gender difference. A positive correlation, with significant concordance and dependence, between stress score and awake bruxism was present for male students only.

CONCLUSIONS

University students showed higher bruxism and stress levels compared to the general population, with higher stress for females, but, even if female students show higher stress, a correlation between stress and bruxism exists only for male gender. Further studies should be performed.

Web-based screening and brief intervention for student marijuana use in a university health center: pilot study to examine the implementation of eCHECKUP TO GO in different contexts

This pilot study sought to test the feasibility of procedures to screen students for marijuana use in Student Health Services (SHS) and test the efficacy of a web-based intervention designed to reduce marijuana use and consequences. Students were asked to participate in voluntary screening of health behaviors upon arrival at SHS. One hundred and twenty-three students who used marijuana at least monthly completed assessments and were randomized to one of four intervention conditions in a 2 (intervention: Marijuana eCHECKUP TO GO vs. control)×2 (site of intervention: on-site vs. off-site) between-groups design. Follow-up assessments were conducted online at 3 and 6 months. Latent growth modeling was used to provide effect size estimates for the influence of intervention on outcomes. One thousand and eighty undergraduate students completed screening. The intervention did not influence marijuana use frequency. However, there was evidence of a small overall intervention effect on marijuana-related consequences and a medium effect in stratified analyses in the on-site condition. Analyses of psychological variables showed that the intervention significantly reduced perceived norms regarding peer marijuana use. These findings demonstrate that it is feasible to identify marijuana users in SHS and deliver an automated web-based intervention to these students in different contexts. Effect size estimates suggest that the intervention has some promise as a means of correcting misperceptions of marijuana use norms and reducing marijuana-related consequences. Future work should test the efficacy of this intervention in a full scale randomized controlled trial.

Prevalence of Tobacco Smoking and Factors Associated with the Initiation of Smoking among University Students in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Introuduction

Tobacco smoking is considered to be the key preventable risk factor for morbidity and mortality at the global level. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco smoking and factors associated with the initiation of smoking among university students in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 264 students of Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2015. A standard, self-administered questionnaire consisting of questions on socio-demographic variables, tobacco smoking status, family and peer tobacco smoking history, attitudes and beliefs about tobacco smoking, as well as knowledge about the negative health consequences of tobacco smoking was administered to participants. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models, chi square, and Fisher exact tests.

Results

The overall prevalence of tobacco smoking was 60.2%, where males smoked at higher rates than females (68.81% and 19.56%, respectively). The influence of friends was the most significant reason for initiating tobacco smoking (OR: 0.862; CI: 0.810-0.917). Perception regarding tobacco smoking was significantly related to continuing tobacco use. Logistic regression models identified that smoking-related attitudes, potential health problems, and family members dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer were significantly associated with tobacco smoking.

Conclusion

The current tobacco smoking prevalence among university students in Bangladesh is over 60%. We suggest adopting WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) policies, especially for university students.

The Prevalence, Attitudes, and Correlates of Waterpipe Smoking Among High School Students in Iran: a Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

The purpose of the present study was to determine the correlates of waterpipe (WP) smoking among 15-17-year-old high school students in Iran.

METHOD

Data were collected using the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), a self-administrated questionnaire distributed to a representative sample of high school students aged 15-17 in the city of Tabriz. Current WP smoking was defined as past 30-day use, and ever WP smoking was defined as at least one or two lifetime puffs. Differences in WP use, knowledge, and attitudes were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Binary logistic regression estimated the association between relevant independent variables (e.g., age) and the dependent variables (current/ever WP smoking).

RESULTS

Of 1517 students, 21.6 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] = 19.5, 23.8) were ever WP smokers, and 9.7 % (95 % CI = 8.2, 11.2) were current WP smokers. Of current WP smokers, 40.3 % have stated that they want to stop smoking now. Moreover, 14.1 % of non-WP smokers reported that they might enjoy smoking WP. Of current WP smokers, 49.0 % have smoked at cafés. Additionally, 95.3 % of current WP smokers reported that their age did not prevent them from being served a WP. Studying in high school third grade (adjusted odds ratios (AORs) = 1.70; 95 % CI [1.10, 2.63]), experience of cigarette smoking (AORs = 1.57; 95 % CI [1.12, 2.20]), and being prepared to accept a WP offered by close friends (AORs = 3.31; 95 % CI [2.17, 5.04]) were independently associated with ever WP smoking, and accepting a WP offered by close friends (AORs = 4.36; 95 % CI [2.69, 7.07]) and gender (female) (AORs = 0.45; 95 % CI [0.30, 0.70] were independently associated with current WP smoking.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of current and ever WP smoking is high in Tabriz. There is an urgent need to design interventions in order to increase students' and their parents' awareness regarding the harmfulness of WP, and to establish legal measures to restrict adolescents' access to WPs and tobacco in society.

Evaluating Variability in Immunization Requirements and Policy Among U.S. Colleges and Universities

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate variation in vaccine requirements, recommendations, and enforcement strategies among U.S. four-year colleges and universities.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study abstracting information from Web sites among a sample of 216 four-year colleges and universities from all 50 states and District of Columbia. Our primary outcomes of interest included: type and number of vaccines required for school entry, vaccines recommended by schools for students, and vaccines supplied through student health services. Covariates of interest included: school type, region, school size, mention of American College Health Association recommendations, presence of an accredited health center, mention of state requirements, presence of an enforcement strategy, and exemption stringency of the state in which the school was located.

RESULTS

Almost all (94%) schools required at least one vaccine for school entry, and 48% required three or more vaccines. The most commonly required vaccines were measles, mumps, and rubella (88.4%) and meningococcal vaccine (51.9%). All schools required the same vaccines included in state requirements but 65% also required additional vaccines. Most schools (67.1%) used registration hold to enforce requirements, while 14.8% restricted students from campus housing and 2.8% dismissed noncompliant students. Seventeen percent of schools had no published enforcement strategies. A higher proportion of private compared to public universities required three or more vaccines (57% vs. 37.3%, p = .014).

CONCLUSIONS

While most schools have immunization requirements, there is significant variation in number and type of vaccines required. This suggests potential inconsistent uptake of recommended vaccines for college students and underlies the need to characterize facilitators and barriers to immunization program implementation on college campuses.

Protecting the health of medical students on international electives in low-resource settings

BACKGROUND

Increasingly, medical students from developed countries are undertaking international medical electives in developing countries. Medical students understand the many benefits of these electives, such as the opportunity to develop clinical skills, to gain insight into global health issues and to travel to interesting regions of the world. However, they may be much less aware of the risk to their health and wellbeing while abroad. Compounding this problem, medical students may not seek advice from travel medicine practitioners and often receive inadequate or no information from their medical school prior to departure.

METHODS

The PubMed database was searched for relevant literature relating to the health of medical elective students. Combinations of the following key words were used as search terms: 'international health elective', 'medical student' and 'health risks'. Articles were restricted to those published in English from 1997 through June 2017. A secondary review of the reference lists of these articles was performed. The grey literature was also searched for relevant material.

RESULTS

This narrative literature review outlines the risks of clinical electives in resource-poor settings which include exposure to infectious illness, trauma, sexual health problems, excessive sun exposure, mental health issues and crime. Medical students may mitigate these health risks by being informed and well prepared for high-risk situations. The authors provide evidence-based travel advice which aims to improve pre-travel preparation and maximize student traveller safety. A safer and more enjoyable elective may be achieved if students follow road safety advice, take personal safety measures, demonstrate cultural awareness, attend to their psychological wellbeing and avoid risk-taking behaviours.

CONCLUSION

This article may benefit global health educators, international elective coordinators and travel medicine practitioners. For students, a comprehensive elective checklist, an inventory of health kit items and useful web-based educational resources are provided to help prepare for electives abroad.

An Electronic Medical Record Alert Intervention to Improve HPV Vaccination Among Eligible Male College Students at a University Student Health Center

This pilot study aims to improve HPV vaccination for college aged males at a student health center. The first part of the study consisted of a focus group that assessed the barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccination among healthcare providers and clinic staff (N = 16). Providers reported missed opportunities for HPV vaccination. For the second part of the study, providers and staff reviewed medical records of patients ages 18-26 with student health insurance and with < 3 doses of the HPV vaccine at baseline (12/1/2014 to 7/31/2015) and follow-up (12/1/2015 to 7/31/2016). A computer-automated EMR alert was generated in the medical record of eligible male patients (N = 386). Z-scores were estimated for two-sample proportions to measure change in HPV vaccine rates at baseline and follow-up for males and females. HPV vaccine initiation rates increased among males (baseline: 5.2% follow-up: 25.1%, p < 0.001). This study shows that EMR alerts improved HPV vaccine initiation rates among insured college-aged males.

Psychometric Analysis of the Body Shape Questionnaire in Mexican University Students

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the psychometric properties, internal structure, and relationship with anthropometric indicators of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) among Mexican university students according to the measurement invariance approach.

METHODS

An instrumental study was carried out to assess the psychometric properties, validity, and reliability of the BSQ. The analysis of the measurement invariance was performed using the Least Squares Estimation, and weighted by adjusted variance and polychoric correlations after assessing different measurement models for BSQ in each group. The scores of the final version were correlated with anthropometric indicators by the Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

As regards the dimensional analysis, all of the previous models for BSQ have favourable adjustment rates, although those with a single factor show more robust evidence. The configural invariance was accepted; suggesting that the one-dimensional structure is common for both men and women. However, 16-item factorial loadings were statistically different between the groups. Hence, they were discarded and an 18-item version (BSQ-18) was obtained, which is considered invariant as regards gender. In addition, there is a direct relationship between the scores of the BSQ-18 version and the body mass index, waist circumference, and fat percentage. Satisfactory indicators were found as regards stability.

CONCLUSIONS

The BSQ-18 can be used with men and women, and has high reliability indicators to be conducted in clinical settings to assess eating disorders and obesity among university students.

Factors associated with antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis at a university health center

Background

Antibiotics are not indicated for treating acute bronchitis cases, yet up to 70% of adult acute bronchitis medical visits in the USA result in an antibiotic prescription. Reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis is a key antibiotic stewardship goal set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding what factors influence prescribing for bronchitis cases can inform antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. The goal of this study was to identify factors associated with antibiotic prescribing at a high-volume student health center at a large US university. The Pennsylvania State University Health Services offers on-campus medical care to a population of over 40,000 students and receives over 50,000 visits every year.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of acute bronchitis visits for the 2015–2016 academic year and used a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify variables associated with antibiotic prescribing.

Results

Findings during lung exams increased the likelihood of an antibiotic prescription (rales OR 13.95, 95% CI 3.31–80.73; rhonchi OR 5.50, 95% CI 3.08–10.00; percussion abnormality OR 13.02, 95% CI 4.00–50.09). Individual clinicians had dramatically different rates of prescribing (OR range 0.03–12.3). Male patients were more likely than female patients to be prescribed antibiotics (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.17–2.41). Patients who reported longer duration since the onset of symptoms were slightly more likely to receive prescriptions (OR 1.04 per day, 95% CI 1.03–1.06), as were patients who reported worsening symptoms (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.03–3.10). Visits with diagnoses or symptoms associated with viral infections or allergies were less likely to result in prescriptions (upper respiratory tract infection (URI) diagnosis OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.18–0.58; sneezing OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.17–0.86; vomiting OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.10–0.83). An exam finding of anterior cervical lymphadenopathy was associated with antibiotic prescribing (tender OR 3.85, 95% CI 1.70–8.83; general OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.25–5.54).

Conclusions

Suspicious findings during lung examinations (rales, rhonchi, percussion abnormality) and individual healthcare providers were important factors influencing antibiotic prescribing rates for acute bronchitis visits. Patient gender, worsening symptoms, duration of illness, symptoms associated with viral infections or allergies, and anterior cervical lymphadenopathy also influenced prescribing rates.

Relationship between teaching modality and COVID-19, well-being, and teaching satisfaction (campus & corona): A cohort study among students in higher education

Objectives

Higher education institutions all over the world struggled to balance the need for infection control and educational requirements, as they prepared to reopen after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A particularly difficult choice was whether to offer for in-person or online teaching. Norwegian universities and university colleges opted for a hybrid model when they reopened for the autumn semester, with some students being offered more in-person teaching than others. We seized this opportunity to study the association between different teaching modalities and COVID-19 risk, quality of life (subjective well-being), and teaching satisfaction.

Study design

Prospective, observational cohort study.

Methods

We recruited students in higher education institutions in Norway who we surveyed biweekly from September to December in 2020.

Results

26 754 students from 14 higher education institutions provided data to our analyses. We found that two weeks of in-person teaching was negatively associated with COVID-19 risk compared to online teaching, but the difference was very uncertain (−22% relative difference; 95% CI -77%–33%). Quality of life was positively associated with in-person teaching (3%; 95% CI 2%–4%), as was teaching satisfaction (10%; 95% CI 8%–11%).

Conclusion

The association between COVID-19 infection and teaching modality was highly uncertain. Shifting from in-person to online teaching seems to have a negative impact on the well-being of students in higher education.

Effects of Biopsychosocial Interventions on Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain and Its Related Disabilities among Students

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the effects of biopsychosocial interventions on non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) and disabilities caused by it among Students.

STUDY DESIGN

A two-group pretest-posttest randomized clinical trial.

METHODS

The statistical population of the study was female students enrolled at the first-stage secondary school in Hamadan, Iran. A total of 200 students were selected through cluster sampling and randomized into two groups of intervention and control. The primary evaluation was performed by the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), the Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-S), the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), and the visual analogue scale (VAS). Upon developing and implementing the biopsychosocial model-based interventions for ten weekly two-hour sessions, the secondary evaluation was fulfilled, and the extracted data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 21.

RESULTS

The independent-group t-test results revealed that the mean scores of quality of life (QOL) and physical activity significantly elevated in the intervention group, compared to the control. In addition, the mean value of disabilities, the amount of disorder in the lumbar region, and the VAS scores in the intervention group substantially declined compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

The significant variations in the biopsychosocial factors demonstrated that the development of some interventions based on the bio-psychosocial model (BPSM) could help manage the NSCLBP and its ensuing disabilities. Therefore, the BPSM-based interventions could be exploited to minimize musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in students.

Healthcare delivery systems at higher educational institutions in India

BACKGROUND

The interrelation between health and academic performance is well established. Academic institutions have a larger mandate, beyond academic instruction alone. The objective is to contribute holistically to student development through various paradigms, ultimately culminating in student success. To meet the global challenges of a changing educational system, educational institutions today are therefore vying to be Centers of Excellence, aiming to develop the overall personality of the student. Fundamental to this ideology and with student success as the common denominator, student Wellness assumes critical significance. Higher education institutions, especially universities offer varying levels of healthcare services. Health Promoting University (HPU) projects have therefore been implemented in the West. Unlike in the West, the concept of a Health Promoting University is nascent in India.

METHODS

A total of 1071 responses to a structured questionnaire administered to the students were studied.

RESULTS

In general, there appears to be a lack of awareness regarding the importance of addressing student healthcare issues. Consequently, the spectrum of healthcare services provided is varied and scattered. This encompasses infrastructure, manpower, resource allocation etc.

CONCLUSIONS

The collective responses obtained could provide the basis for a policy formulation. The policy formulation in turn could be the basis of a national consensus for health care delivery systems operational at higher educational institutions in India.

Lifestyles of university students: analyzing the role of social support and family dynamics

BACKGROUND

Youth is a critical stage for developing healthy lifestyles, as the habits and behaviors formed during this period can persist into adulthood. Understanding the relationship between family factors and the lifestyles of university students can contribute to creating strategies to improve this important health determinant. This research aimed to analyze the relationship between social support, family dynamics, and lifestyles in young university students.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional descriptive study.

METHODS

A probability sample of 530 young university students was analyzed. The main measurements included social support, family dynamics, and lifestyles. Descriptive analysis of quantitative and qualitative variables was performed. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for bivariate analysis, and Student's t-test was used to analyze differences between male and female participants. Additionally, multivariate analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

For the total sample, a positive and moderate association was found between family dynamics (r = 0.28) and social support (r = 0.32) with the lifestyles of young individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that social support and family dynamics are possible protective factors that have a positive effect on the lifestyles of university students. The findings of this study highlight the importance of family and familial support in adopting healthy lifestyles among university students.

Procrastination, depression and anxiety symptoms in university students: a three-wave longitudinal study on the mediating role of perceived stress

BACKGROUND

It is generally assumed that procrastination leads to negative consequences. However, evidence for negative consequences of procrastination is still limited and it is also unclear by which mechanisms they are mediated. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the harmful consequences of procrastination on students' stress and mental health. We selected the procrastination-health model as our theoretical foundation and tried to evaluate the model's assumption that trait procrastination leads to (chronic) disease via (chronic) stress in a temporal perspective. We chose depression and anxiety symptoms as indicators for (chronic) disease and hypothesized that procrastination leads to perceived stress over time, that perceived stress leads to depression and anxiety symptoms over time, and that procrastination leads to depression and anxiety symptoms over time, mediated by perceived stress.

METHODS

To examine these relationships properly, we collected longitudinal data from 392 university students at three occasions over a one-year period and analyzed the data using autoregressive time-lagged panel models.

RESULTS

Procrastination did lead to depression and anxiety symptoms over time. However, perceived stress was not a mediator of this effect. Procrastination did not lead to perceived stress over time, nor did perceived stress lead to depression and anxiety symptoms over time.

CONCLUSIONS

We could not confirm that trait procrastination leads to (chronic) disease via (chronic) stress, as assumed in the procrastination-health model. Nonetheless, our study demonstrated that procrastination can have a detrimental effect on mental health. Further health outcomes and possible mediators should be explored in future studies.

A collective agenda: A qualitative study on Exercise is Medicine® On Campus gold-level institutions

Objective

The Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) international campaign leverages university resources (e.g., health centers, recreation, and kinesiology departments) to encourage students, faculty, and staff to integrate physical activity into campus culture. This involves evaluating student physical activity levels during health visits and establishing referral systems for exercise prescriptions. EIM-OC allows universities to earn tiered recognition (Gold, Silver, or Bronze) based on their on-campus physical activity promotion and integration. For Gold recognition, schools must incorporate routine physical activity assessments into their health system, ultimately connecting healthcare providers with health/fitness professionals (HFPs, e.g., campus recreation professionals, kinesiology professors). This research worked to uncover pivotal factors driving EIM-OC on-campus collaborations through HFPs' perspectives.

Methods

HFPs (n = 11) working full-time at a Gold-level institution (n = 10 in United States) participated. Semi-structured, Zoom-recorded interviews with a generic qualitative research design were completed between June and September 2022.

Results

Major thematic findings included the importance of tangible support (e.g., personnel), encounters with both trust and tension cross-campus, positive student development opportunities, and variations in outcome reporting and program evaluation. Faculty and staff emphasized the need for methods to obtain and sustain program funding. Participants also expressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to increase the collective impact of EIM-OC on student health and overall collegiate success.

Conclusion

HFPs expanded on their EIM-OC experiences and program sustainment or growth requirements. With increased interdisciplinary collaboration, rigor in outcome reporting, and tangible resources, the collective impact of EIM-OC on student health outcomes and overall collegiate success could be greatly perpetuated.

Food insecurity among students in Open Distance and e-Learning in South Africa

OBJECTIVE

Food insecurity is a widely studied phenomenon; however, studies documenting food insecurity among Open Distance and e-Learning students are sadly lacking. This paper aim of this paper is to study the prevalence of food insecurity among Open Distance and e-Learning students in South Africa. The purpose is to test the common assumption that Open Distance and e-Learning students do not struggle with food insecurity as they are typically living at home or employed.

METHOD

The method used in this paper was an online anonymous version of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and was administered through Qualtrics.

RESULTS

Only 27.9% (n = 2084) of respondents were food secure and mildly food insecure (score of 1 to 4), while those who were moderately food insecure constituted 16.7% (n = 1250) of the sample (score of 5 to 6) and those with severe food insecurity constituted 55% (n = 4130). The dependent variable was not normally distributed and therefore nonparametric measures were used to test for differences in groups, namely, the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U tests.

CONCLUSION

The results show that African students are more likely to experience food insecurity compared to their counterparts, while there were no substantive differences in gender. Members of the LGBTQI community were also shown to be at higher risk of food insecurity. Those whose primary income was either grants or income from an informal business were at higher risk of food insecurity than those who worked full time. The findings of this study underscore the pervasive nature of food insecurity among students in South African Open, Distance and e-Learning education.

Addressing nursing student clinical placement poverty concerns: A discussion paper

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that more than two-thirds of Australian nursing students experience placement poverty and increased stress and anxiety because of the financial cost of completing clinical placements.

AIM

A contemporary discussion on the issue of the financial impact of placement experienced by Australian nursing students.

DESIGN

Discursive.

DISCUSSION

>96 % of nursing students from one Australian study expressed a necessity for financial support to complete clinical placements. Available Australian scholarships and income support programs target overall university study costs. Few are placement specific. Direct and indirect costs of placement are introduced and discussed along with the impact of placement poverty on students. Media articles indicate nursing students in other countries may also experience financial stress during placement. Solution focussed recommendations are provided.

CONCLUSION

Globally, rates of uptake of scholarships are largely unknown and there are eligibility barriers. Financial support mechanisms for students undertaking placement need to be widely disseminated and focus on reimbursement for placement costs incurred. Solutions must privilege students' learning over workforce contributions. Understanding nursing student experiences of placement poverty universally is needed to enhance placement learning experiences and student retention and wellbeing.

DSM-5 genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder: Prevalence, comorbidities, and associated factors in university students

Background/objective

Little is known about the prevalence of Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPPD), a female sexual dysfunction newly introduced in the DSM-5. This study aimed to estimate the 12-month prevalence of clinical and subclinical GPPPD among first-year university students in Germany, examining comorbidities and associated factors.

Method

As part of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student initiative, the 12-month prevalence of GPPPD was assessed in female university students in Germany during 2016/2017 (N = 521). Using propensity score weighting, 12-month prevalence rates were determined for clinical and subclinical GPPPD together with associated factors and mental health comorbidities using binary logistic regression.

Results

In the weighted female university student sample, 26.4 % reported experiencing at least one core symptom of GPPPD in the past 12 months. 12-month prevalence of clinical GPPPD was 2.1 % (n = 11/521; 95 % CI: 1.1 %-3.8 %), while subclinical GPPPD was 12.9 % (n = 67/521; 95 % CI: 10 %-16 %). Among women with clinical GPPPD, 25.8 % (n = 3/11) reported a comorbid lifetime mental disorder, compared to 64.6 % (n = 43/67) with subclinical GPPPD and 54.7 % (n = 243/444) without GPPPD. There were no significant differences in the odds of comorbid mental disorders between women with and without GPPPD symptoms. Subclinical and clinical GPPPD, compared to no GPPPD, were associated with being in a relationship (OR = 2.45, 95 % CI: 1.25-4.82, p = 0.009), sexual activity in the past 12 months (OR = 5.05, 95 % CI: 1.52-16.8, p = 0.008), severe distress in love life (OR=3.20, 95 % CI 1.44-7.11), and overall good compared to very good or very poor mental health (OR = 4.50, 95 % CI: 1.07-19.00, p = 0.041).

Conclusion

One in eight female students displays subclinical GPPPD, and 2 % meet full DSM-5 criteria. Future multinational longitudinal studies with standardized measures are needed to compare prevalence rates across countries and identify risk and protective factors for targeted prevention and treatment of GPPPD.