AUTHOR=Kalbus Alexandra , Boenecke Juliane , Holt Maxine , Powell Susan , Reintjes Ralf 

TITLE=Exploring Trends and Differences in Health Behaviours of Health Sciences University Students from Germany and England: Findings from the “SuSy” Project

JOURNAL=Public Health Reviews

VOLUME=Volume 42 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/public-health-reviews/articles/10.3389/phrs.2021.1603965

DOI=10.3389/phrs.2021.1603965

ISSN=2107-6952

ABSTRACT=A students’ health behaviour surveillance system has been implemented in Hamburg and Manchester in 2014 and 2016, recruiting students from under- and postgraduate health sciences programmes, and assessing six behaviours (fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, stress perception, alcohol, tobacco and cannabis consumption). Trends among the Hamburg sample were described. In a cross-sectional assessment, health behaviours across both universities were examined using multivariate regression analysis.
Between 2014 and 2018, increasing trends in physical activity, and cannabis and alcohol consumption were observed among Hamburg students (n=1366). While fruit and vegetable intake was constantly low, tobacco smoking decreased. No clear trend was observed for stress perception. When comparing both samples (n = 474), Manchester students had higher odds of smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and fruit and vegetable consumption, and had lower odds of being physically active and consuming cannabis, whereas no difference in stress perception was observed.
Varying trends were identified for health behaviours in Hamburg, indicating a potential areas of intervention. The comparison with Manchester students revealed differences in behaviours, whose further exploration may inform health promotion strategies in both settings.