Predicting Australia’s university students’ mental health status

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22945124
AutoresWayne Usher (0000-0003-4227-7174, Griffith University, autor correspondente), Clint Curran (Runaway Bay Sport & Leadership Excellence Centre, Sports Super Centre, 1 Sports Drive, Runaway Bay, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)
Ano2019
Volume34
Fascículo2
Páginas312-322
Data de publicação2019-04-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/dax091
PMID29206924
OpenAlexW2770009055
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas13
Referências citadas14

University years are a period of increased morbidity and mortality, associated with negative health behaviours and corresponding poor mental health (MH) status amongst students. With this said, the aim of this research was to determine the level of influence a number of predictive factors have on Australia's university students' MH status. A cross-sectional study design, consisting of an online survey was implemented. Psychometric measurement components were based on adopting Bronfenbrenner's socio-ecological model approach to collecting descriptive statistics. This approach was concerned with investigating patterns of association between three predictive factors [social emotional wellbeing (SEWB), physical activity (PA) levels and sporting club (SC) involvement], against four domains (personal, university, home and community). This study identified that 25% (n = 571) of participants (n = 2326) indicated that they have been diagnosed with a MH disorder. Specifically, gender, age, negative health behaviours, lower levels of PA and SC involvement and poor SEWB, were found to be significantly and positively associated (p < 0.05*, p < 0.01**) with a MH diagnosis. Importantly, findings from this study indicate that there are significant (positive/negative) associations between the identified predictive factors and participants' MH status. Findings from this study will go towards informing current and future Student Health Service policies, practices and infrastructure allocation that address MH status amongst university students.

Environmental health · Mental health · Psychiatry · Health disparities and outcomes · Health, psychology, and well-being · Medicine · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health