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Is the Health and Wellbeing of University Students Associated with their Academic Performance? Cross Sectional Findings from the United Kingdom

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  • Walid El Ansari

    (Faculty of Sport, Health and Social Care, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, UK)

  • Christiane Stock

    (Unit for Health Promotion Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Niels Bohrs Vej 9-10, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark)

Abstract

This study explored the associations between health awareness, health behaviour, subjective health status, and satisfaction of students with their educational experience as independent variables and three outcomes of educational achievement as dependent variables. We undertook two simultaneous cross-sectional surveys among students from one University in the UK during 2008−2009. The first survey was a general health survey; the second survey measured students’ satisfaction with different aspects of their learning and teaching experience. Students’ registration numbers linked the responses of both questionnaires together, and subsequently linked the questionnaires to the university database to import the grades that students actually achieved in their studies. Generally, students (N = 380) exhibited average medium to high satisfaction with their educational experiences. Students’ satisfaction with their educational experiences was not associated with any of the three indicators of educational achievement (actual module mark; perceived own performance; importance of achieving good grades). The associations of educational satisfaction, health, health behaviours, heath complaints and financial parameters with the three outcomes of educational achievement did not differ between male and female students. Each of the health, health behaviours, health complaints and financial parameters were selectively associated with only some but not all three indicators of student educational achievement. We conclude that the findings support a conceptual framework suggesting reciprocal relationships between health, health behaviour and educational achievement. Comprehensive health promotion programmes may have the potential to influence relevant predictors of educational achievement in university students.

Suggested Citation

  • Walid El Ansari & Christiane Stock, 2010. "Is the Health and Wellbeing of University Students Associated with their Academic Performance? Cross Sectional Findings from the United Kingdom," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:7:y:2010:i:2:p:509-527:d:7122
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ding, Weili & Lehrer, Steven F. & Rosenquist, J.Niels & Audrain-McGovern, Janet, 2009. "The impact of poor health on academic performance: New evidence using genetic markers," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 578-597, May.
    2. Wardle, Jane & Steptoe, Andrew, 1991. "The European health and behaviour survey: Rationale, methods and initial results from the United Kingdom," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 925-936, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Amani Alhazmi & Farah Aziz & Manal Mohammed Hawash, 2021. "Association of BMI, Physical Activity with Academic Performance among Female Students of Health Colleges of King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-10, October.
    2. Suphawita Pliannuom & Kanokporn Pinyopornpanish & Chaisiri Angkurawaranon & Kanokwan Pinyopornpanish & Anawat Wisetborisut & Surinporn Likhitsathian & Wichuda Jiraporncharoen, 2021. "Utilization of Health Care Services and Common Disease Diagnoses among University Students: An Analysis of 35,249 Students from Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, July.
    3. Walid El Ansari & Khalid Khalil & Christiane Stock, 2014. "Symptoms and Health Complaints and Their Association with Perceived Stressors among Students at Nine Libyan Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, November.
    4. Walid El Ansari & Abdul Salam & Sakari Suominen, 2020. "Is Alcohol Consumption Associated with Poor Perceived Academic Performance? Survey of Undergraduates in Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Walid El Ansari & Christiane Stock & Ceri Phillips & Andi Mabhala & Mary Stoate & Hamed Adetunji & Pat Deeny & Jill John & Shan Davies & Sian Parke & Xiaoling Hu & Sherrill Snelgrove, 2011. "Does the Association between Depressive Symptomatology and Physical Activity Depend on Body Image Perception? A Survey of Students from Seven Universities in the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Walid El Ansari & Abdul Salam, 2020. "Is Achieving the Guidelines of Four Forms of Physical Activity Associated with Less Self-Reported Health Complaints? Cross-Sectional Study of Undergraduates at the University of Turku, Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-19, August.

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