Online survey of fatigue and associated factors among university students in Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Fatigue affects over half of all adults worldwide, but it is particularly prevalent among undergraduates due to the combined effects of academic stress and a heavy workload. This study aimed to evaluate the level of fatigue and associated factors among university students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. An online survey was conducted among 201 nursing students at the College of Nursing between March and May 2024. A Structured questionnaire with 20 questions, divided into three sections (demographics, health-related characteristics, and fatigue assessment), was used for data collection. The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) was used to assess fatigue, with respondents rating their experiences on a 5-point scale. The Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used to determine the association between variables. To identify predictors of fatigue, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used. Furthermore, logistic regression was applied to identify the predictors of fatigue. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in all analyses. In this study of 201 students, 87.1% (175/201) were males, with a mean age of 22.86 ± 1.63 years. A significant proportion, 88.6% (178/201), reported experiencing high levels of fatigue with a mean fatigue score of 30.80 ± 6.92, out of a total possible score of 50. Moreover, over one-third of the participants indicated that they became exhausted very quickly. Additionally, 24.9% (50/201) reported feeling mentally drained. Physically active students had lower levels of fatigue compared to inactive students, as evidenced by both categorical analysis (p = 0.043) and median fatigue scores (physically active scored less, as 30.00, IQR: 12.00, comparing to inactive 32.00, IQR: 6.00) (p = 0.038). Similarly, nonsmokers had lower levels of fatigue compared to smokers (p = 0.049). Additionally, median fatigue score for fourth-year (33.00(IQR:6.00) and interns was, 32.00(IQR:12.00), indicating a significant difference in median fatigue score based on the year of study (p = 0.044). Likewise, smokers 33.00 (IQR:6.00) exhibited higher median fatigue scores compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers, however the difference was not significant (p = 0.051). Our findings reveal that students experience high levels of fatigue, which can have detrimental effects on their physical and mental well-being. Notably, students who engaged in regular physical activity and did not smoke reported lower levels of fatigue, suggesting that these healthy habits are significantly associated with reduced fatigue. Policies and advocacy implemented through multiple channels encouraging physical activity and banning possible risk factors (like smoking) with the compass may alleviate the burden of fatigue and improve the ability to learn, preventing burnout and well-being of students are recommended.

Keywords: Fatigue; Health; Health outcome; Physical activity; Smoking.