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Poor sleep is an independent predictor of musculoskeletal pain prevalence and burden in university students

A cross-sectional study of 9,122 university students found that poor sleep was the strongest independent predictor of both MSP prevalence (OR=2.81, 95% CI: 2.26-3.49) and pain burden (OR=3.72, 95% CI: 2.86-4.83). MSP prevalence was 58.7%, with neck, back, and shoulders most affected.

Last updated: Jul 28, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Musculoskeletal pain in university students: lifestyle determinants of prevalence and burden.

observational

Li Y, Liang J, Ma J, Jia Z, Li X, Su Q · Frontiers in public health (2026)

Participants: 9122
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Observational assessment of lifestyle behaviors including sleep quality
Outcome: Musculoskeletal pain prevalence and pain burden (moderate/severe)
Effect Size: OR=2.81 for prevalence; OR=3.72 for burden
Population: University students at Sichuan University, China (mean age 21.1 years, 44.5% female)

Result: A cross-sectional study of 9,122 university students found that poor sleep was the strongest independent predictor of both MSP prevalence (OR=2.81, 95% CI: 2.26-3.49) and pain burden (OR=3.72, 95% CI: 2.86-4.83). MSP prevalence was 58.7%, with neck, back, and shoulders most affected.

PubMed: 42499999DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1831482

Mechanism Graph

Poor sleep disrupts restorative processes and increases inflammation
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Altered pain perception and central sensitization
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Reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behavior
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Result: Higher risk of MSP occurrence and severity

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Self-reported sleep and pain data may introduce recall bias

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in this study?▼

58.7% of university students reported MSP, with neck (43.6%), back (37.1%), and shoulders (36.2%) most affected.

How strong was the association between poor sleep and pain burden?▼

Poor sleep had an odds ratio of 3.72 (95% CI: 2.86-4.83) for moderate to severe pain burden, making it the strongest predictor.

What other lifestyle factors predicted MSP?▼

Female gender, poor diet, high sedentary risk, long screen duration, and low physical activity were also independent predictors.

Can this study prove that poor sleep causes musculoskeletal pain?▼

No, due to the cross-sectional design, it can only show an association, not causation.

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References

  1. 1.Li Y, Liang J, Ma J, Jia Z, Li X, Su Q. "Musculoskeletal pain in university students: lifestyle determinants of prevalence and burden.." Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42499999 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1831482
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.