Misophonia Awareness and Stress in Students

A new study of nearly 200 university students has found that awareness of misophonia—a condition characterized by intense emotional reactions to specific sounds—varies significantly between future healthcare professionals. The research, conducted by Rahmiye Nur Aktan, Ali Karaağaç, and Hilal Nur Saygılı, revealed that occupational therapy students reported both higher misophonia symptom severity and higher perceived stress levels than their peers in audiology.

Measuring Awareness, Symptoms, and Stress

The research team assessed 196 adult students from occupational therapy and audiology departments. Participants completed a demographic form, the Misophonia Questionnaire (MQ), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The MQ measures the emotional and behavioral responses to trigger sounds, while the PSS evaluates how unpredictable and overwhelming an individual finds their life circumstances. Statistical analysis confirmed both scales had acceptable internal consistency, meaning the questions reliably measured the intended concepts.

The methodology allowed the researchers to compare not just symptom levels between groups, but also to explore the relationship between knowledge of misophonia, the severity of its symptoms, and an individual’s overall stress load.

Occupational Therapy Students Show Higher Sensitivity

Results showed statistically significant differences between the student groups. Occupational therapy students scored higher on both the misophonia and stress scales. The authors suggest this may be due to occupational therapists’ trained focus on sensory processing and environmental adaptation, potentially making them more aware of—or sensitive to—sensory triggers like specific sounds.

“The reason why occupational therapy students scored higher on the MQ and PSS may be due to their heightened sensory sensitivity, stress levels or awareness,” the authors note. In contrast, audiology students, while trained in hearing disorders, may focus more on the physiological aspects of sound rather than the emotional and behavioral reactions studied here. This difference in professional focus underscores the complex nature of misophonia, which sits at the intersection of auditory and emotional processing. For more on how auditory health conditions are interconnected, see our article on Integrated Auditory Health.

A Clear Link Between Misophonia Severity and Stress

Across all participants, a clear relationship emerged: higher misophonia symptom scores correlated with higher perceived stress scores. This finding supports the growing understanding of misophonia as a condition deeply tied to emotional regulation and the stress response system. It is not simply a dislike of noise; the aversive reaction triggers a significant stress response.

Furthermore, demographic factors played a role. While age was not significant, gender, department (as noted), and family history created distinct differences in some sub-scales. Most strikingly, students who reported not receiving any psychological support had the highest stress scores of all. This points to a critical gap in care and the potential for psychological interventions to help manage the stress component of the condition, a topic explored in our resource on Misophonia Management in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Implications for a Multidisciplinary Treatment Approach

The study’s conclusions emphasize two major points for clinical practice and patient understanding. First, the findings align with literature indicating misophonia symptoms begin early and often persist into adulthood, establishing a chronic pattern. This necessitates early identification and long-term management strategies.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, the results argue strongly for a multidimensional view of misophonia. “They emphasise the importance of considering not only the neurophysiological basis of misophonia, but also its psychosocial dimensions,” the authors write. A condition that is tied so closely to perceived stress and emotional reactivity cannot be addressed through sound-based therapies alone.

The authors explicitly state that a multidisciplinary approach—likely involving audiology, psychology or psychiatry, and occupational therapy—could improve treatment outcomes. This mirrors the collaborative approach needed for other complex auditory conditions, such as the management of hyperacusis in professionals with high noise exposure.

Moving Beyond Sound Sensitivity

This research provides quantitative evidence that misophonia is more than an auditory sensitivity. It is a condition where specific, often ordinary, sounds become potent triggers for significant emotional distress and stress. The higher awareness and symptom scores in occupational therapy students highlight the role of sensory and emotional processing. The strong link to perceived stress, especially in those without psychological support, calls for integrated care models that address the mind and body together to help individuals manage their reactions and improve their quality of life.

The full research paper, “Determining the level of misophonia awareness, and its relationship with perceived stress in occupational therapy and audiology students,” is available via DOI: 10.1186/s43163-026-01163-8.