Affiliations:
Department of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Joanna Kowalska, PhD., prof. AWF Department of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, I.J. Paderewskiego Street 35, 51-612 Wrocław, Poland. Tel.: +48 71 347 3522; E-mail: joanna.kowalska@awf.wroc.pl.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Researchers suggest that physiotherapists are highly exposed to both the physical and the mental strains. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to assess mood and the level of stress as well as a sense of coherence among future physiotherapists studying at the Department of Physiotherapy. METHODS:The study included 249 students, 181 women and 68 men. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC-29) and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) were used. RESULTS:The examined group had an average level of sense of coherence and a low level of stress. One out of four students exhibited mood disorders. The factors associated with the prevalence of mood disorders among studied students were as follows: female (gender), lack of regular physical activity, poor financial situation, lack of friend to talk to in case of problems, dissatisfaction with the chosen field of study, and being inadequately prepared to work as a physiotherapist. CONCLUSIONS:The results of the study indicate an increased prevalence of mood disorders among students of physiotherapy. It is suggested that this situation may require the implementation of effective psychoprophylactic activities during the course of studies and broadly understood education about the psychophysical wellbeing of students, especially as they will work in an environment that requires high resistance to stress and support for other people in a crisis situation.
Keywords: Depression, level of coherence, perceived stress, students of physiotherapy, medical professions
