Abstract
IntroductionMuch research on the health and well-being of third level students is focused on poor mental health leading to a dearth of information on positive mental health and well-being. Recently, the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale (WEMWBS) was developed as a measurement of positive mental health and well-being. The aim of this research is to investigate the distribution and determinants of positive mental health and well-being in a large, broadly representative sample of third level students using WEMWBS.MethodsUndergraduate students from one large third level institution were sampled using probability proportional to size sampling. Questionnaires were distributed to students attending lectures in the randomly selected degrees. A total of 2,332 self-completed questionnaires were obtained, yielding a response rate of 51% based on students registered to relevant modules and 84% based on attendance. One-way ANOVAs and multivariate logistic regression were utilised to investigate factors associated with positive mental health and well-being.ResultsThe sample was predominantly female (62.66%), in first year (46.9%) and living in their parents’ house (42.4%) or in a rented house or flat (40.8%). In multivariate analysis adjusted for age and stratified by gender, no significant differences in WEMWBS score were observed by area of study, alcohol, smoking or drug use. WEMWBS scores were higher among male students with low levels of physical activity (p=0.04). Men and women reporting one or more sexual partners (p<0.001) were also more likely to report above average mental health and well-being.ConclusionThis is the first study to examine positive mental health and well-being scores in a third level student sample using WEMWBS. The findings suggest that students with a relatively adverse health and lifestyle profile have higher than average mental health and well-being. To confirm these results, this work needs to be replicated across other third level institutions.
Highlights
Much research on the health and well-being of third level students is focused on poor mental health leading to a dearth of information on positive mental health and well-being
Studies from around the world focusing on the mental health and well-being of third level students have investigated risky behaviours and poor mental health and well-being [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Positive mental health can be defined as “the scientific study of those positive strengths and virtues that enable people & communities to reach optimal levels of health, happiness and well-being” [8]. This adopts the view that positive mental health and well-being is a positive concept which goes beyond healthy lifestyles to overall well-being and replaces the traditional medical perspective which has mainly focused on the treatment of mental illness [9]
Summary
Much research on the health and well-being of third level students is focused on poor mental health leading to a dearth of information on positive mental health and well-being. The aim of this research is to investigate the distribution and determinants of positive mental health and well-being in a large, broadly representative sample of third level students using WEMWBS. The findings suggest that students with a relatively adverse health and lifestyle profile have higher than average mental health and well-being To confirm these results, this work needs to be replicated across other third level institutions. Positive mental health can be defined as “the scientific study of those positive strengths and virtues that enable people & communities to reach optimal levels of health, happiness and well-being” [8] This adopts the view that positive mental health and well-being is a positive concept which goes beyond healthy lifestyles to overall well-being and replaces the traditional medical perspective which has mainly focused on the treatment of mental illness [9]. As highlighted by Seligman, positive mental health and well-being is grounded in the philosophy of positive psychology [8,10] and health promotion [11]
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