Health and Mental Wellbeing in Studies

Most people, including prospective students, are already aware before they begin their studies that studying isn't always stress-free. It's human nature to feel a certain aversion to the numerous exams, the seemingly endless lectures, and the large crowds at university. Furthermore, failing exams causes anxiety, worry, and additional pressure for almost all students. The psychological strain increases because failed attempts cause students to "fall behind" their planned course schedule. The risk of not completing the standard period of study increases. Therefore, more and more students worldwide are struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders, which in turn have a negative impact on their overall health.

Every individual has a different level of stress tolerance. This means that some people are better able to handle stress than others. In fact, poorly managing stress is one of the primary causes of health problems. Common illnesses caused by stress include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as burnout and depression. Since students have little control over their workload, as the scope of the material is determined by their professors, it is all the more important to manage stress properly to maintain mental and physical health. Only with a strong mind and a healthy body are you able to face and overcome major challenges. We would now like to introduce you to what you should pay attention to when it comes to your health during your studies.

Part 1: Studies on the topic of stress perception and mental ailments

Facts and figures on students’ perception of stress

In an online survey conducted by the University of Hohenheim and Potsdam regarding the perceived stress while studying, 53% of all students reported experiencing high levels of stress.
This study was conducted in 2016 with 18,000 students. Care was taken to ensure the study was as broad as possible to cover as many types of universities, degree programs, regions, and degrees as possible.
For comparison: At around the same time, the perceived stress among employees was around 50%. This suggests that students are more stressed than the average working population in Germany!

What are the reasons for the high level of stress?

Students cited "university-related stress" as one of the primary reasons for their high level of stress. This includes exam preparation, writing their final thesis, the workload, and the extensive material in the modules. Many also stated that they have too high expectations of themselves.

Results of the Study

The stress level is above average.
The study's results also show that students associate stress with pressure to perform, fear of being overwhelmed, and pressure to perform.
Particularly interesting is the significant differences in stress perception between genders, types of higher education institutions, degree programs, and regions.

In summary, the study came to the following conclusions:

Gender:

Women experience higher levels of stress than men.

Uni vs. FH:

Students at universities of applied sciences are more stressed than those at universities or cooperative education institutions.
Public universities are perceived as more stressful than private universities.
Bachelor's students have higher stress levels than students in master's programs or state examination programs.

Study Programs in comparison:

The following degree programs have the highest levels of psychological stress among students: Computer Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Art.
The following degree program is perceived as the most pleasant or most relaxing: Sports Science

Region:

Studying in North Rhine-Westphalia or Baden-Württemberg is more stressful than in Schleswig-Holstein, Brandenburg, or Bavaria.
Rhineland-Palatinate has the least stressed students.

Part-time jobs:

Students with part-time jobs are less stressed than students without part-time jobs.

The positive news that the study provided is:

The majority of students are able to cope with the stress of their studies (exam preparation, assignments, presentations, exam situations, etc.).

Reasons for psychological stress before and during studies

People who decide to study find themselves in a biographically crisis-prone transition phase between adolescence and adulthood. The central theme is identity formation and the search for direction. This phase is characterized by many successive challenges, such as:

detachment from family,
the "old" social network,
self-organization,
performance requirements
numerous exams ⇒ "Students perceive their studies as a mere series of exams and feel ever-increasing pressure."
Fear of failure
Anxiety about the future
and the transition to real working life.

In short, many changes occur in a short period of time that put a strain on the psyche.

Facts and figures on mental stressors in Students

According to a WHO study, the rate of mentally ill college students was 20.3 percent. In 2017, the German Center for Higher Education and Science Research (DZHW), FU Berlin, and TK, which conducted their "Study on the Health of Students in Germany," reached a similar result of approximately 25 percent.

This means that one in four students in Germany is stressed.
A 2018 Barmer study found that studying is not good for one's health.
This hypothesis was based on the fact that older students have a significantly higher risk of developing depression than first-year students.
Furthermore, the number of prescriptions for antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs is higher among students than among non-students.

A further indication of increasing pressure is reflected in the figures for psychological counselling services at universities and technical colleges, which, despite capacity expansions, are unable to meet the demand for counselling appointments.

Part 2: Measures to Promote Mental Wellbeing

Possible measures to curb the rise in mental illness among students

At the institutional level, the following critical question should be asked:

Given the complex problems facing the world, is it desirable to hire future decision-makers who have only learned how to navigate the exam system quickly and effectively?

A. Create awareness

It is absolutely beneficial to create awareness regarding the standard period of study.
The goal of completing their studies within the standard period of study is very important to most students, even if they don't like to admit it. Every student who begins their studies has set the goal of completing their studies within the standard period of study.
At the same time, they create artificial stress, which increases as soon as they realize that failing exams makes their goal more difficult to achieve. Therefore, it is very important for the university to send a clear message.
The standard period of study is not an obligation, but rather an option. Students should view the standard period of study as a minimum study time or guideline, from which everyone can deviate and set their own study pace. This would be a preventative method to avoid building up stress.

Psychoeducational Measures

Psychoeducational measures are intended to ensure that crises resulting from the poor design of studies and everyday work can be avoided as much as possible.
Institutions, colleges, and universities that demand a lot must also be able to provide support.
This means that institutions should see themselves as having a duty of care to create the conditions for students to study in a mentally healthy manner.

Expanding Psychological Counseling Services 

Another measure would be to expand the scope of psychological counseling services with a view to preventative work.
Mental disorders or illnesses should not arise in the first place. Symptoms, problems, or complaints can be identified and addressed early on to avoid collateral damage.
Students should not begin their studies with negative thoughts about them, but rather be able to truly enjoy and be interested in their studies.
The well-staffed mental health centers established at US universities can serve as a model here.
Offer various courses on mental health, stress management, and meditation.
A widely underestimated tool for strengthening mental health is the right training and knowledge.
Through a wide range of courses and coaching on meditation, stress management, mental health, self-organization, and work organization, students can gain new knowledge that they can use to manage their studies.
This requires an investment on the part of the universities, which must hire the right contacts, trainers, etc.
In addition, this has a positive effect on later professional and personal life, as the student learns how to deal with great psychological stress.

Part 3: Studying during the Covid-19 pandemic, including measures to stay mentally fit

How psychologically stressful is studying during the pandemic?

For many students, the winter semester of 2020/21 is already the second online semester of their student life. Lecture halls, cafeterias, libraries, sports and cultural centers remained closed. This has a huge impact on student performance.

According to a published report from the online survey Stu.diCo, initial results are available regarding students' well-being, concerns, fears, and motivation. A total of 3,000 students from all federal states of Germany participated in the study.

The results show that the assessment of the online semester varies. The most important findings include:

Increased workload due to online teaching

72.4% of all respondents stated that the workload was higher than during a normal on-campus semester. This is due to the increased number of assignments and presentations that arise during the online semester.

Wanting another online semester?

When asked whether students would like an additional online semester, approximately 60% of respondents declined this offer. Furthermore, 50% of all students stated that they could imagine extending their studies, provided that the study program would be cost-neutral.

Challenges in the home-learning situation

The stressors include the lack of infrastructure (cafeteria, study room, library, etc.), the lack of social interaction (fellow students, acquaintances, etc.), the need to care for other family members, and the lack of space to work undisturbed. Other factors that place a significant burden on students include loneliness, distraction, technical limitations, and the lack of personal support from lecturers.

Opportunities of Online Teaching

On the positive side, however, are the elimination of travel to the department, the increased flexibility in scheduling, the time savings, and the opportunity to learn about new digital courses and offerings.

Financial Pressure

According to the survey, the pandemic had no impact on 52% of students. 37% of respondents stated that their income had decreased, and approximately 44 percent of students are worried about financing their studies.

Looking at the numbers, we see that almost half of all students have financial concerns. According to the Higher Education Information System, which surveyed a total of 2,500 dropouts in 2019, dropout rates are higher when students experience financial difficulties. A part-time job takes up additional time, but the extra money is essential for most students, as many do not receive financial support from their parents.

In addition, the coronavirus is burdening many students with existential fears, as well as loneliness, health concerns, stress, and financial problems all affect their mental health.

Everyday Student Life Without Social Interaction

The majority of complaints about the standstill in social and cultural exchange are expressed. Many students miss campus life and contact with other students. Approximately 50% miss interacting with teachers.

In addition to the concerns mentioned above, many students also found the COVID-19 semester to be very positive. According to their statements, it was the best semester of their studies so far. Others, however, claim that they have lost interest in studying.

Measures to stay mentally fit during the Covid-19 pandemic

Structuring the Day

The day should be as well-structured as possible, as the lack of leisure activities and appointments creates many gaps that can lead to boredom or disorientation. A fixed plan with the daily goals should be set every morning.

Control your own focus

To effectively combat low moods, at the end of the day, you should reflect on what went well during the day, despite all the complications and adversities, and how much you accomplished. These can be small things, such as a workout, a conversation, or completing a household chore. By focusing on the positive, you can therefore balance out the negative aspects of the COVID-19 semester.

Externalize

This refers to the thoughts that should be cleared from one's mind in order to improve one's emotional state. Often, negative thoughts build up in one's mind and bother us throughout the day, resulting in no improvement in the situation. To externalize thoughts, it is recommended to write them down with pen and paper. The thoughts leave one's mind and can be viewed from a different perspective. Another alternative for developing one's thoughts is to record them on audio. This allows each individual to better deal with thoughts and worries.

Do you want to improve your grades at university and are looking for the perfect study materials for your degree program? Then check out Studydrive.

Here you'll find tons of free study materials, worksheets, past exam solutions, and the opportunity to exchange ideas with other students.

Go to Studydrive