Digital burnout and academic procrastination are associated with neck and low back pain among university students

Mehmet Akif Güler; Merve Burcu Güler; Rabia Rana Solak; Melek Murtuğan; Aybüke Özbilen; Hatice Rüveyda Karadağ; Furkan Kara

Digital burnout and academic procrastination are associated with neck and low back pain among university students

Abstract

Aims: This study investigated whether digital burnout and academic procrastination were related to past four-week neck and low back pain in university students. It also evaluated their associations with pain intensity, body awareness, and physical activity. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with 582 university students in Turkiye. Data were obtained through an online questionnaire between March and April 2026. Neck and low back pain were measured with the Turkish version of the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, while pain intensity was rated on an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale. Digital burnout, academic procrastination, physical activity, and body awareness were assessed using validated or culturally adapted measures. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated using modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Results: Each primary outcome had a four-week prevalence of 33.5%. In the adjusted models, digital burnout showed PRs of 1.28 for neck pain (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-1.44) and 1.19 for low back pain (95% CI: 1.05-1.34) per one-standarddeviation increase. Academic procrastination was related to low back pain (PR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.08-1.40), but its relationship with neck pain was not statistically significant. In secondary analyses, higher digital burnout and academic procrastination scores corresponded to greater pain intensity, and digital burnout showed an inverse relationship with physical activity. Conclusion: Digital burnout and academic procrastination may represent relevant behavioral correlates of spinal pain burden in university students. Student musculoskeletal health strategies may benefit from combining ergonomic education with digital well-being, academic self-regulation, movement breaks, and physical activity promotion.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Promotion, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mehmet Akif Güler ^*
0000-0003-0543-2016
Türkiye

Merve Burcu Güler
0000-0003-0841-7401
Türkiye

Rabia Rana Solak
0009-0004-4257-8940
Türkiye

Melek Murtuğan
0009-0000-4672-9639
Türkiye

Aybüke Özbilen
0009-0004-1483-0336
Türkiye

Hatice Rüveyda Karadağ
0009-0000-3067-7088
Türkiye

Furkan Kara
0009-0001-5015-2729
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 16, 2026

Submission Date

May 7, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA98ZA59ZK

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Güler, M. A., Güler, M. B., Solak, R. R., Murtuğan, M., Özbilen, A., Karadağ, H. R., & Kara, F. (2026). Digital burnout and academic procrastination are associated with neck and low back pain among university students. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(4), 818-826. https://izlik.org/JA98ZA59ZK

AMA

1.Güler MA, Güler MB, Solak RR, et al. Digital burnout and academic procrastination are associated with neck and low back pain among university students. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(4):818-826. https://izlik.org/JA98ZA59ZK

Chicago

Güler, Mehmet Akif, Merve Burcu Güler, Rabia Rana Solak, et al. 2026. “Digital Burnout and Academic Procrastination Are Associated With Neck and Low Back Pain Among University Students”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (4): 818-26. https://izlik.org/JA98ZA59ZK.

EndNote

Güler MA, Güler MB, Solak RR, Murtuğan M, Özbilen A, Karadağ HR, Kara F (July 1, 2026) Digital burnout and academic procrastination are associated with neck and low back pain among university students. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 4 818–826.

IEEE

[1]M. A. Güler et al., “Digital burnout and academic procrastination are associated with neck and low back pain among university students”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 818–826, July 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA98ZA59ZK

ISNAD

Güler, Mehmet Akif - Güler, Merve Burcu - Solak, Rabia Rana - Murtuğan, Melek - Özbilen, Aybüke - Karadağ, Hatice Rüveyda - Kara, Furkan. “Digital Burnout and Academic Procrastination Are Associated With Neck and Low Back Pain Among University Students”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/4 (July 1, 2026): 818-826. https://izlik.org/JA98ZA59ZK.

JAMA

1.Güler MA, Güler MB, Solak RR, Murtuğan M, Özbilen A, Karadağ HR, Kara F. Digital burnout and academic procrastination are associated with neck and low back pain among university students. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:818–826.

MLA

Güler, Mehmet Akif, et al. “Digital Burnout and Academic Procrastination Are Associated With Neck and Low Back Pain Among University Students”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 4, July 2026, pp. 818-26, https://izlik.org/JA98ZA59ZK.

Vancouver

1.Mehmet Akif Güler, Merve Burcu Güler, Rabia Rana Solak, Melek Murtuğan, Aybüke Özbilen, Hatice Rüveyda Karadağ, Furkan Kara. Digital burnout and academic procrastination are associated with neck and low back pain among university students. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1;8(4):818-26. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA98ZA59ZK