The Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Asthma Symptoms Among Public Universities Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease which poses a significant health challenge globally, affecting millions of individuals across all age groups. The objective of the study was to assess the association between perceived stress and asthma symptoms among students enrolled at public universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We hypothesized that there is a positive relationship between perceived stress and the asthma symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, utilizing the Arabic-validated questionnaires of the asthma control test, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) as the primary instrument for data collection. It included university level students aged 17 years and older who have been diagnosed with asthma by medical specialist. The electronic questionnaire was distrusted using bulletin boards and social media platforms between March 2024-May 2024. RStudio software to statistically analyze the data and assess the association between stress asthma symptoms using multivariate logistic regression model. Ethical guidelines were followed throughout the research process and the IRB approval was obtained. Results: The study included a sample of 156 asthmatic participants enrolled at public university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Most of the participants were females (n = 131 (84%)). The overall median participates age was 21 (IQR: 20-22) y. Overall, there were 5 (3%) with low perceived stress, 125 (80%) moderate perceived stress, and 26 (17%) high perceived stress. No significant demographic differences between perceived stress groups except in sex. Most students (n = 127 (81%)) reported having a respiratory symptom during the last 30 days of completing the questionnaire. Students with high perceived stress was more likely to have respiratory symptoms (OR: 6.85; 95% CI: 1.20,130) compared to students with moderate perceived stress (adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, BMI, and asthma control test). Conclusions: Perceived stress was associated with asthma symptoms among public universities students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, this research aimed to contribute to the development of targeted interventions and strategies to improve the management and control of asthma symptoms in this population. Finally, further investigations may be on a larger scale to assess if there are any difference in between regions of Saudi Arabia or types of higher education institutions.