Perceived health profiles of Dutch university students living with their parents, alone or with peers

Abstract

Students report a lower health status compared with working peers. This discrepancy may be the result of differences in their living situation, such as student housing. The aim of this study was to compare students who were living with their parents with students who were not living with their parents but rather with peers, alone, or with a partner using logistic regression analyses. We hypothesized that students who were living with their parents would report better health outcomes than students who were living with peers or alone or with a partner. A group of 8,258 students studying at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands were invited to complete an internet-distributed questionnaire, consisting of questions about general health, fatigue, psychological health, support, study-related issues, study-related problem solving, time pressure, perceived study delay and program study delay, and living situation. Students who are living with their parents reported a lower health status compared with students living with peers or alone/with a partner. Students living with their parents were less often using tobacco, alcohol, or drugs compared with the other two groups. Our hypothesis is not supported by the results of the present study. Students living alone or with a partner and students who are living with peers reported a better general health status than students living with their parents.