Association of Upper Cross Syndrome with Emotional well-being of Medical Students

Abstract

Background: Upper cross syndrome (UCS) is associated with postural abnormalities and neck-related musculoskeletal disability, which may influence emotional well-being. Objective: To investigate the association between UCS and emotional well-being among students at the University of Lahore. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over six months among 112 students aged 18–25 years using non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square test were used for analysis in SPSS version 25. Results: The mean age was 22.09 ± 1.84 years, and 77.7% of participants were female. NDI results showed mild disability in 37.5%, moderate disability in 25.0%, severe disability in 6.3%, and no disability in 31.3%. The mean WHO-5 score was 20.46 ± 2.75. A statistically significant association was observed between NDI categories and WHO-5 scores (χ² = 119.473, df = 33, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Upper cross syndrome and associated neck disability may affect the emotional well-being of medical students. Promoting proper posture, ergonomic practices, and early physiotherapy intervention may help improve students’ physical and emotional well-being.