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

Author

Listed:
  • Heide Busse

    (Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Christoph Buck

    (Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Christiane Stock

    (Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

  • Hajo Zeeb

    (Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany
    Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Claudia R. Pischke

    (Institute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany)

  • Paula Mayara Matos Fialho

    (Institute of Medical Sociology, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany)

  • Claus Wendt

    (Department Sociology of Health and Healthcare Systems, University Siegen, 57068 Siegen, Germany)

  • Stefanie Maria Helmer

    (Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Heide Busse & Christoph Buck & Christiane Stock & Hajo Zeeb & Claudia R. Pischke & Paula Mayara Matos Fialho & Claus Wendt & Stefanie Maria Helmer, 2021. "Engagement in Health Risk Behaviours before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in German University Students: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1410-:d:492473
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gregory Knell & Michael C. Robertson & Erin E. Dooley & Katie Burford & Karla S. Mendez, 2020. "Health Behavior Changes During COVID-19 Pandemic and Subsequent “Stay-at-Home” Orders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-16, August.
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    4. Dom, Geert & Samochowiec, Jerzy & Evans-Lacko, Sara & Wahlbeck, Kristian & Van Hal, Guido & McDaid, David, 2016. "The impact of the 2008 economic crisis on substance use patterns in the countries of the European Union," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 65068, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Aleksander Aristovnik & Damijana Keržič & Dejan Ravšelj & Nina Tomaževič & Lan Umek, 2020. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life of Higher Education Students: A Global Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-34, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Tholen & Koen Ponnet & Guido Van Hal & Sara De Bruyn & Veerle Buffel & Sarah Van de Velde & Piet Bracke & Edwin Wouters, 2022. "Substance Use among Belgian Higher Education Students before and during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Kirsten J. M. van Hooijdonk & Milagros Rubio & Sterre S. H. Simons & Tirza H. J. van Noorden & Maartje Luijten & Sabine A. E. Geurts & Jacqueline M. Vink, 2022. "Student-, Study- and COVID-19-Related Predictors of Students’ Smoking, Binge Drinking and Cannabis Use before and during the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown in The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Aurélie Goncalves & Sarah Le Vigouroux & Elodie Charbonnier, 2021. "University Students’ Lifestyle Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-9, August.
    4. María Giner-Murillo & Beatriz Atienza-Carbonell & Jose Cervera-Martínez & Teresa Bobes-Bascarán & Benedicto Crespo-Facorro & Raquel B. De Boni & Cristina Esteban & María Paz García-Portilla & Susana G, 2021. "Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-17, July.
    5. Alex Patin & Joel Ladner & Marie-Pierre Tavolacci, 2022. "Change in University Student Health Behaviours after the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Jeong, Soyun & Fox, Ashley M., 2023. "Enhanced unemployment benefits, mental health, and substance use among low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    7. Sun Yeop Lee & Sun Kim & Woong-Han Kim & Jongho Heo, 2022. "Employment, Economic, and Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Changes in Smoking and Drinking Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, February.
    8. Franca Spatafora & Paula M. Matos Fialho & Heide Busse & Stefanie M. Helmer & Hajo Zeeb & Christiane Stock & Claus Wendt & Claudia R. Pischke, 2022. "Fear of Infection and Depressive Symptoms among German University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    9. Lorena Botella-Juan & Carmen Amezcua-Prieto & María M. Morales-Suarez-Varela & Ramona Mateos-Campos & Carlos Ayán-Pérez & Antonio José Molina & Rocío Ortiz-Moncada & Susana Redondo-Martín & Juan Algua, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Evolution of Prevalence and Patterns of Cannabis Use among First-Year University Students in Spain—UniHcos Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-13, September.
    10. Marie Pierre Tavolacci & Edwin Wouters & Sarah Van de Velde & Veerle Buffel & Pierre Déchelotte & Guido Van Hal & Joel Ladner, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Health Behaviors among Students of a French University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.
    11. Javad J. Fatollahi & Sean Bentley & Neal Doran & Arthur L. Brody, 2021. "Changes in Tobacco Use Patterns among Veterans in San Diego during the Recent Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-13, November.
    12. Ismael García-Campanario & Luc E. Vanlinthout & Rocío Toro & Alipio Mangas & Carolina Lagares-Franco, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity and Lifestyles in Post-Confinement Sports Science Undergraduates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-11, July.
    13. Rubio, Milagros & van Hooijdonk, Kirsten & Luijten, Maartje & Kappe, Rutger & Cillessen, Antonius H.N. & Verhagen, Maaike & Vink, Jacqueline M., 2023. "University students’ (binge) drinking during COVID-19 lockdowns: An investigation of depression, social context, resilience, and changes in alcohol use," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).

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