Spinal pain as a public health concern: associations with health anxiety, life satisfaction, sleep quality, and well-being in young adults.

BACKGROUND: Spinal pain is a prevalent and emerging public health concern among young adults, and is associated with psychological well-being and overall quality of life. However, its associations with health anxiety, life satisfaction, and sleep quality in this population remain underexplored. This study investigates the associations between spinal pain and these factors, highlighting implications for early public health interventions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 206 young adults, categorized based on the presence of spinal pain using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Participants completed validated measures assessing health anxiety, life satisfaction, sleep quality, and quality of life. Spearman correlation and regression analyses were performed to evaluate relationships among variables. RESULTS: Spinal pain was significantly associated with increased health anxiety and reduced life satisfaction and sleep quality. Health anxiety showed a positive relationship with poorer quality of life and was a significant predictor of life satisfaction (β = -0.284, p = 0.0001), sleep quality (β = -0.145, p = 0.039), and quality of life (β = +0.476, p = 0.0001). These findings underscore the psychological burden accompanying spinal pain in young adults. CONCLUSIONS: The study emphasizes the need to address spinal pain not only as a physical condition but also as a psychological and public health issue affecting young adults' well-being. Integrating mental health assessment and early preventive strategies into public health policies could mitigate the broader impact of spinal pain on this population.