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

NCT07531680 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: E-95674917-108.99-149458
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 74
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Healthy University Students

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postural Habits and Awareness (PHAS scores)

  The Postural Habits and Awareness Scale (PHAS) is a self-reported measure used to assess individuals' postural habits and awareness in daily life, with scores typically ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better posture and greater awareness.

  4 months

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy university students

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Inonu University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Gümüşhane University

Gümüşhane, 29000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Cramer H, Mehling WE, Saha FJ, Dobos G, Lauche R. Postural awareness and its relation to pain: validation of an innovative instrument measuring awareness of body posture in patients with chronic pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2018 Apr 6;19(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s12891-018-2031-9.

  PMID: 29625603 BACKGROUND

• Salsali M, Sheikhhoseini R, Sayyadi P, Hides JA, Dadfar M, Piri H. Association between physical activity and body posture: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2023 Aug 30;23(1):1670. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16617-4.

  PMID: 37649076 RESULT

Study Officials

• MÜŞERREF EBRU YALÇIN

  GümüşhaneUniversity

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 9, 2026
• First Posted: April 15, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2023
• Study Completion: June 1, 2023
• Last Updated: April 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2023-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)