A longitudinal examination of students’ health behaviours during their first year at university

Journal article


Gibson, Ann-Marie, Shaw, Johanna, Hewitt, Allan, Easton, Chris, Robertson, Sarah and Gibson, Neil. (2018). A longitudinal examination of students’ health behaviours during their first year at university. Journal of Further and Higher Education. 42(1), pp. 36-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2016.1188902
AuthorsGibson, Ann-Marie, Shaw, Johanna, Hewitt, Allan, Easton, Chris, Robertson, Sarah and Gibson, Neil
Abstract

During the transition from school to higher education, young adults experience a substantial amount of change where they progress from the highly controlled setting of school to the autonomous and self-motivated environment of university. Time spent at university is considered a critical period during which young adults establish a clear sense of identity, which can include forming positive health behaviours such as regular physical activity. The transition from school to university also involves a number of changes that can impact on the mental well-being of students including financial concerns, academic pressures and a lack of social support. Our aim was to longitudinally examine the physical activity levels and mental well-being of Scottish students during their first year at university. Participants were 48 first-year students (males, n = 24; females, n = 24) aged 18–19 years enrolled at two Scottish universities in the UK. At entry to university (semester 1) participants completed a validated self-report measure of physical activity and measures of anxiety and depression. Participants’ physical activity levels were assessed for seven days via accelerometry. Participants completed the same measures six months later (semester 2). Daily moderate physical activity levels decreased across the semesters yet perceptions of mental well-being remained stable. There was a significant increase in hip and waist circumferences across the semesters. The first year of university is a critical period for establishing positive health behaviours and there is a need for universities to actively encourage physical activity as an integral part of university life.

Keywordshigher education; physical activity; university; students; mental well-being; health
Year2018
JournalJournal of Further and Higher Education
Journal citation42 (1), pp. 36-45
PublisherRoutledge
ISSN0309-877X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2016.1188902
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84976370535
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range36-45
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online29 Jun 2016
Publication process dates
Accepted24 Feb 2016
Deposited18 Aug 2022
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