HNEE participates in study on the health of its students

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) is one of three German universities to take part in a health monitoring pilot project for the first time. Students at the participating universities were asked about their health behaviour in various areas such as nutrition, physical activity, substance use and mental stress. The results of the surveys have now been presented in a publication on health behaviour and mental stress.

HNEE and Ilmenau University of Technology (TU Ilmenau) have conducted a study to record and analyse how students are doing in their everyday lives at their own university and whether they are also taking care of their health outside of the lecture halls. Together with the Akkon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, they developed a survey instrument for student health monitoring as part of the "Dein Masterplan" project and then carried out an initial survey of students in Eberswalde and Ilmenau between April and June 2019 on their health behaviour and mental stress. The background to this collaboration is that there is as yet no established monitoring system for student health management. "However, our aim is to better harmonise the needs of students and existing services in the future. With an appropriate evaluation, we can fulfil this requirement appropriately," says Claudia Jandziol, Health Manager at HNEE.
A total of 856 students from both universities were analysed. The participation rates were 10.6 per cent at HNEE and 11.7 per cent at TU Ilmenau. The average age of the students was 23.1 years. The students were surveyed in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, substance use and psychological stress. It was found, for example, that the students surveyed were physically active for 251.5 minutes per week. A total of 64.6 per cent of students therefore meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation to be physically active for at least 150 minutes per week. When it comes to nutrition, fruit and vegetable consumption was recorded. A total of 50.4 per cent of students consume fruit or vegetables at least daily. At 71.9 per cent, the proportion of students at HNEE who regularly eat fruit or vegetables is significantly higher than at TU Ilmenau (43.8 per cent).
Both universities were in line with the national average for the consumption of alcohol and tobacco products. There were no significant differences between the two universities in the area of mental stress. The stress level was determined using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). A high level of stress was reported by a total of 16.1 per cent of students. In the overall sample, significantly more women (21.2 per cent) than men (10.8 per cent) are affected by a high level of stress. The study did not investigate the reasons for the described differences in students' health behaviour. Among other things, university-specific, socio-cultural differences in the student body (goals, interests, values of the students) could influence the frequency and manifestation of certain behaviours. However, a generalisation of the results to the respective student bodies of the universities is only possible with certain restrictions.
"We have gained a concrete impression of the health behaviour of our students and are pleased that positive aspects such as nutrition and exercise have also become apparent. The comparison with other universities made possible by the project helps us to assess in which areas there is a need for action and where we can provide support with targeted measures if necessary," says Claudia Jandziol, Health Manager at HNEE. There are plans to repeat the survey in the winter semester 2021/2022. This survey will also take into account the situation of the coronavirus pandemic.

Background to health management at HNEE
Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) has been actively promoting the health of its employees and students since 2015, as it sees itself not only as a place of teaching and research, but also as a living space for all university members. Health management at HNEE combines occupational health management (OHM) with student health management (Studentischen Gesundheitsmanagement, SGM). This means that health is integrated into all areas of university culture. Health-promoting working and study conditions enable everyone to remain healthy and productive in the long term. This includes strengthening the competences, coping skills and resilience resources of university members in dealing with work and study-related stress. This includes, for example, traditional occupational health and safety, gradual reintegration after long-term illness (company reintegration management, BEM) and modern personnel management. In July 2020, health support for students was also provided by the Campus Coach a comprehensive online offer from BARMER on the topic of physical and mental health, was activated for the university in July 2020. Students receive tips on topics such as nutrition, stress and addiction as well as numerous fitness exercises. Online workshops and a meditation app can also be used free of charge.

Further information

• Study "Health behaviour and mental stress of students".
  Published on 13 January 2021