Engagement in Health Risk Behaviours before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in German University Students: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study.

Heide Busse,Christiane Stock,Stefanie Maria Helmer,Claus Wendt,Claudia R Pischke,Paula Mayara Matos Fialho,Hajo Zeeb,Christoph Buck

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041410

Abstract

Tobacco and cannabis use, alcohol consumption and inactivity are health risk behaviors (HRB) of crucial importance for health and wellbeing. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students’ engagement in HRB has yet received limited attention. We investigated whether HRB changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, assessed factors associated with change and profiles of HRB changes in university students. A web-based survey was conducted in May 2020, including 5021 students of four German universities (69% female, the mean age of 24.4 years (SD = 5.1)). Sixty-one percent of students reported consuming alcohol, 45.8% binge drinking, 44% inactivity, 19.4% smoking and 10.8% cannabis use. While smoking and cannabis use remained unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic, 24.4% reported a decrease in binge drinking while 5.4% reported an increase. Changes to physical activity were most frequently reported, with 30.6% reporting an increase and 19.3% reporting a decrease in vigorous physical activity. Being female, younger age, being bored, not having a trusted person and depressive symptoms were factors associated with a change in HRB. Five substance use behavior profiles were identified, which also remained fairly unchanged. Efforts to promote student health and wellbeing continue to be required, also in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

Nonconsumer was considered as the reference profile showing consistently no health-risk behaviors (HRB) prior to COVID-19, where 97.6%
We found that the majority of students reported engagement in two risk behaviors, 19% reported tobacco smoking, and 11% reported cannabis consumption
Our findings differed with regard to a study conducted among US adults during the COVID-19 restrictions, which found that 37% increased their cannabis use [38]

Summary

Introduction

Engagement in HRB among the University Student Population. Lifestyle behaviors, such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, cannabis use and physical inactivity are health-risk behaviors (HRB) of crucial importance for health and wellbeing. As key factors in the prevention of non-communicable diseases and primary causes of premature morbidity and mortality [1], engagement in HRB carries high costs to individuals and society. While engagement in HRB is typically initiated in the adolescent years, engagement is continued into “emerging adulthood” [2], where for many young people, the transition from home and secondary school into higher education or the labor market is made. The transition to university, in particular, often goes alongside a change

Results

Discussion

Conclusion