Physical Therapy Students: Well-being

Understanding Well-being in Physical Therapy Students: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Motivation, Life Satisfaction, and Perceived Academic Quality

This study aims to explore various psychosocial aspects and the potential benefits of respiratory techniques for physical therapy students.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anxiety State; Motivation; Life Stress; Sleep, Inadequate
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Respiratory breathing techniques group

Detailed Description

Understanding the psychosocial state of academic students has become a primary concern in contemporary educational research and practice. As students go through the challenges of higher education, factors such as motivation, life satisfaction, and happiness play crucial roles in shaping their academic experiences and outcomes. Therefore, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to studying these elements in order to gain insight into the overall state of students and inform strategies designed to create positive educational outcomes.

The implications of studying motivation, life satisfaction, and happiness among academic students are far-reaching. By gaining a deeper understanding of these psychosocial elements, educators and policymakers can develop interventions and programs designed to cultivate positive learning environments that support students' psychological well-being and academic success. For example, strategies that enhance intrinsic motivation, such as promoting autonomy and providing meaningful learning opportunities, can lead to improved engagement and academic achievement. Similarly, initiatives that promote a sense of belonging and social support can improve students' overall life satisfaction and happiness.

Thus, this study aims to explore various psychosocial aspects and the potential benefits of respiratory techniques for physical therapy students.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 128
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Romania
  • Timiș County
    • Timișoara, Timiș County, Romania, 3003001
      • University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes Timisoara

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Students: enrolled in the physical therapy study program (year I, II and III) Age: > 18 years Ability to understand and follow instructions Availability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Pre-existing medical conditions: uncontrolled medical conditions (cardiovascular disease, severe respiratory problems) Use of psychotropic drugs: drugs that could significantly affect mood, anxiety level, or sleep quality.

Pregnancy: due to potential physiological changes that could influence the results of the study.

Inability to comply with study requirements: these could include completing questionnaires and participating in the respiratory techniques program (if part of the intervention group).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Respiratory breathing techniques group; Subjects included in the intervention group will receive a 14 week breathing technique program that will include: different types of breathing techniques (diaphragmatic, pursed-lips, alternate nostril breathing, etc.); progressive muscle relaxation techniques; and medical education about breathing.	Other: Respiratory breathing techniques group; Target group: subjects in the respiratory breathing techniques group. Program duration: the program lasts for 14 weeks. Breathing techniques: the program includes various breathing exercises, including: Diaphragmatic breathing teaches participants to breathe deeply, engaging the diaphragm muscle, which can improve lung capacity and relaxation. Pursed-lips breathing: this technique involves inhaling through the nose and exhaling slowly through pursed lips, which can help slow down breathing and manage shortness of breath. Alternate nostril breathing: this technique involves closing one nostril while inhaling and exhaling through the other nostril alternately. Relaxation techniques: the program incorporates progressive muscle relaxation techniques. This involves progressively tensing and relaxing different muscle groups. Medical education: topics like the anatomy of the respiratory system, the importance of proper breathing, potential benefits of specific breathing exercises.
No Intervention: Control group; Second-year physical therapy students that do not want to participate in the breathing technique program and will complete only the questionnaires.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assessing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation levels among physical therapy students.	The Motivational Styles Questionnaire (MSLQ) assesses students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation levels. The MSLQ does not have a standard range of minimum and maximum values. Higher scores on intrinsic motivation indicate a better outcome, reflecting a higher level of internal motivation. Conversely, higher scores on extrinsic motivation may suggest a reliance on external rewards or pressures, which could indicate a less favorable outcome.	At the beginning of the study
Assessing the happiness levels of the students participating in the study.	The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire evaluates happiness levels. It ranges from 1 to 6. Higher scores on the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher happiness and life satisfaction levels.	At the beginning of the study
Assessing the positive and negative emotional states of the students participating in the study.	The PANAS-GEN Questionnaire measures positive and negative expressions to provide insights into emotional states. It ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores on positive expressions indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher positive emotions. Conversely, higher scores on negative expressions may suggest a less favorable outcome, indicating higher levels of negative emotions.	At the beginning of the study
Assessing the well-being of the students participating in the study.	The RYFF Psychological Well-being Questionnaire assesses different aspects of psychological well-being among students. The RYFF Psychological Well-being Questionnaire typically ranges from 1 to 6. Higher scores on the RYFF Psychological Well-being Questionnaire indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher levels of psychological well-being.	At the beginning of the study
Assessing the overall life satisfaction levels of the students participating in the study.	The Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire evaluates overall life satisfaction. It ranges from 1 to 7. Higher scores on the Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire indicate a better outcome and reflect higher levels of life satisfaction.	At the beginning of the study
Assessing the subjective happiness levels of the students participating in the study.	The Subjective Happiness Scale assesses subjective happiness levels. It ranges from 1 to 7. Higher scores on the Subjective Happiness Scale indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher levels of subjective happiness.	At the beginning of the study
Assessing the sleep quality of the students participating in the study.	The Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI) evaluates the sleep quality of the participants. It ranges from 0 to 21. Lower scores on the PSQI indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher sleep quality.	At the beginning of the study
Assessing the worry and anxiety levels of the students participating in the study.	The Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) assesses students' worry and anxiety levels. It ranges from 1 to 5. Lower scores on the PSWQ indicate a better outcome, reflecting lower levels of worry and anxiety.	At the beginning of the study
Assessing the effects of the respiratory techniques program on the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation levels of the students participating in the study.	Comparison of the MSLQ baseline scores before and after 14 weeks of the respiratory techniques program. Higher scores on intrinsic motivation indicate a better outcome, reflecting a higher level of internal motivation. Conversely, higher scores on extrinsic motivation may suggest a reliance on external rewards or pressures, which could indicate a less favorable outcome.	14 weeks after the beginning of the study
Assessing the effects of the respiratory techniques program on the happiness levels of the students participating in the study.	Comparison of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire baseline scores before and after 14 weeks of the respiratory techniques program. Higher scores on the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher happiness and life satisfaction levels.	14 weeks after the beginning of the study
Assessing the effects of the respiratory techniques program on the students' positive and negative emotional states.	Comparison of the PANAS-GEN Questionnaire baseline scores before and after 14 weeks of the respiratory techniques program. Higher scores on positive expressions indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher positive emotions. Conversely, higher scores on negative expressions may suggest a less favorable outcome, indicating higher levels of negative emotions.	14 weeks after the beginning of the study
Assessing the effects of the respiratory techniques program on the students' well-being.	Comparison of the RYFF Psychological Well-being Questionnaire baseline scores before and after 14 weeks of the respiratory techniques program. Higher scores on the RYFF Psychological Well-being Questionnaire indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher levels of psychological well-being.	14 weeks after the beginning of the study
Assessing the effects of the respiratory techniques program on the overall life satisfaction levels of the students participating in the study.	Comparison of the Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire baseline scores before and after 14 weeks of the respiratory techniques program. Higher scores on the Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher levels of life satisfaction.	14 weeks after the beginning of the study
Assessing the effects of the respiratory techniques program on the subjective happiness levels of the students participating in the study.	Comparison of the Subjective Happiness Scale baseline scores before and after 14 weeks of the respiratory techniques program. Higher scores on the Subjective Happiness Scale indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher levels of subjective happiness.	14 weeks after the beginning of the study
Assessing the effects of the respiratory techniques program on the quality of sleep of the students participating in the study.	Comparison of the Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI) baseline scores before and after 14 weeks of the respiratory techniques program. Lower scores on the PSQI indicate a better outcome, reflecting higher sleep quality.	14 weeks after the beginning of the study
Assessing the effects of the respiratory techniques program on the worry and anxiety levels of the students participating in the study.	Comparison of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) baseline scores before and after 14 weeks of the respiratory techniques program. Lower scores on the PSWQ indicate a better outcome, reflecting lower levels of worry and anxiety	14 weeks after the beginning of the study
Adherence to breathing exercises at 12-month follow-up	Adherence will be assessed using a structured self-report questionnaire developed for this study. Key variables include: weekly frequency, session duration, technique used, barriers, and perceived utility. A composite dose index (frequency × duration) and binary adherence variable will be calculated. Full questionnaire, codebook, and scoring instructions are available at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/T9XAP	12 months after the end of the intervention
Coping strategies assessed with the COPE at 12-month follow-up	Coping will be measured using the COPE inventory (50-item version). The scale includes multiple subscales such as active coping, emotional support, denial, acceptance, planning, and others. Subscale scores will be computed according to the scoring manual.	12 months after the end of the intervention
Self-esteem assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale at 12-month follow-up	Self-esteem will be measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), a 10-item validated questionnaire. Higher total scores indicate higher self-esteem.	12 months after the end of the intervention
Perceived psychological benefit of breathing practice at 12-month follow-up	Psychological benefit will be evaluated using four Likert-scale items measuring perceived improvement in stress, sleep, positivity, and worry. A composite mean score will be calculated (Perceived_benefit_mean). Instrument details and scoring instructions are available at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/T9XAP	12 months after the end of the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes" Timisoara
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Alexandru Florian Crisan, PhD, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes" Timisoara

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Crisan AF, Pescaru CC, Maritescu A, Carunta V, Stoicescu ER, Oancea C, Amaricai E, Onofrei RR. A 14-week structured breathing program: an investigation into its impact on psychological health parameters in university students. BMC Public Health. 2025 Apr 14;25(1):1395. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22585-8.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 9, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 29, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 14, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 25, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): April 2, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): August 29, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 22, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anxiety; Motivation; Physical Therapy; Students; Happiness; Breathing techniques
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Sleep Wake Disorders; Dyssomnias; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Signs and Symptoms; Anxiety Disorders; Stress, Psychological; Sleep Deprivation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 11/07.03.2024

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No