The health of students in institutes of higher education: an important and neglected public health problem?

Abstract

Background A survey of students in three UK higher education establishments was undertaken to obtain information about students' physical and emotional well-being, their attitudes to, and beliefs about health, and the prevalence of risk factors for future ill health.

Methods Health was measured by the prevalence of longstanding illness and by the SF-36 health status measurement tool. Survey results were compared with equivalent data for

18- to 34-year-olds in the local population. The prevalence of long-standing illness was also compared with two national surveys.

Results The survey achieved a 49 per cent response rate.

More than one-third of respondents reported a long-standing illness, a higher prevalence than in all comparison surveys.

Students scored significantly worse than their peers in the local population on all eight SF-36 dimensions. The greatest

Cmerence Was Tor role limntions as a result or emotional problems. The main sources of emotional distress were study or work prodiems and money.

Conclusion The poor response rate in this survey dictates the need for caution in interpretation of the results. However, they suggest that the health of students is poor relative to that of their peers, and that their emotional health is more of a probiem than their physical neann. Public nearn practi tioners might want to pay more attention to the health of this Important and relauvely neglected group.

Worries abou

studies and money appear to be affecting students' academic

work, and this should be of concern to higher education establishments.

Keywords: student, health, survey

Introduction

In studies of health and health-related lifestyles, young people are an under-researched group and there are few surveys of the health of students at universities and other higher education institutions. Most surveys achieve poor response rates from younger age groups, and surveys of students present even more of a challenge for a number of reasons: they often have more than one address; their term-time addresses may be temporary; they have many distractions, from academic pressure to social and sporting activities. As a result, information about students' health is scarce.

The health of students is nevertheless important. As potential policy makers, professionals and senior managers of the future, their health-related lifestyles, and their attitudes and beliefs about health, are likely to have a disproportionate influence on the population's health. Many students leave home for the first time to study for a degree and create a lifestyle free from parental influence. Health-related habits formed during this period may be difficult to change later in life. The system of financing higher education has changed over the last 20 years and financial hardship may be having a detrimental impact on students' health.

In 1995 a survey of students' health and lifestyles was undertaken - a collaboration between four district health authorities and the universities of Oxford and Exeter. The aim was to obtain information related to students' physical and emotional well-being, their attitudes to, and beliefs about health, and the prevalence of risk factors for future ill health. We surveyed students from an established university (institution A), a new university (B) and a college of higher education (C).

A self-completion questionnaire was designed, based on a selection of well-validated questions, including some previously

Health Services Rescarch Unit, Department of Public Health, University of

Uxiord, Institute of Health Sciences. Old Koad. Hcadington, Oxiord Oxs IL

Sarah Stewart-Brown, Director

Julie Evans, Research Officer

Jacoby Patterson, Clinical Lecturer in Public Health Medicine.

Sophie Petersen, * Rescarch Officer

Helen Doll, Statistician

Schools Health Education Unit, University of Exeter, Heavitree Road, Exeter

John Balding, Director

David Regis, Research Manager

Address correspondence to Dr S. Stewart-Brown.

cras. sardh.sicwdn-browneapapc.0x.dc.uk

*Present address: British Heart Foundation Health Promotion Research Group, Department of Public Health. University of Oxford. Institute of Health Sciences, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF.

© Faculty of Public Health Medicine 2000