Background Daily life of higher education students across the world changed profoundly in 2020 wi... more Background Daily life of higher education students across the world changed profoundly in 2020 with the implementation of governmental and institutional measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated mental wellbeing and engagement in health risk behaviours (HRB) in German university students at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data stem from the COVID-19 International Student Wellbeing Study (C19 ISWS). The web-based survey was conducted in May 2020 at four German universities. HRBs included tobacco and cannabis use, alcohol consumption, and engagement in physical activity. All HRBs were assessed retrospectively and at the time of data collection. Mental wellbeing was assessed using the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D 8). We conducted multinomial regression analyses to investigate factors associated with changes in HRBs and latent transition analysis to identify substance use profiles. Results 5021 students completed the survey (69% female; mean age 24.4 years, SD = 5.1). The mean score for depressive symptoms was 9.25 (SD = 0.67, range 0-24). Sixty-one percent of students reported consuming alcohol, 46% binge drinking, 44% inactivity, 19% smoking and 11% cannabis use. While smoking and cannabis use remained unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic, 24% reported a decrease in binge drinking. Changes to physical activity were frequently reported, with 31% reporting an increase and 19% reporting a decrease in vigorous physical activity. Higher depressive symptoms were found to be associated with changes in HRBs. Five substance use behaviour profiles were identified, which remained fairly unchanged. Conclusions Engagement in HRBs remains at high level during the COVID-19 pandemic among German students. Depressive symptoms were found to be associated with changes in HRBs. Efforts to promote student health and wellbeing are needed in times of the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter to prevent longer-term consequences.
The German National Cohort (NAKO) is a multidisciplinary, population-based prospective cohort stu... more The German National Cohort (NAKO) is a multidisciplinary, population-based prospective cohort study that aims to investigate the causes of widespread diseases, identify risk factors and improve early detection and prevention of disease. Specifically, NAKO is designed to identify novel and better characterize established risk and protection factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory and infectious diseases in a random sample of the general population. Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 205,415 men and women aged 19–74 years were recruited and examined in 18 study centres in Germany. The baseline assessment included a face-to-face interview, self-administered questionnaires and a wide range of biomedical examinations. Biomaterials were collected from all participants including serum, EDTA plasma, buffy coats, RNA and erythrocytes, urine, saliva, nasal swabs and stool. In 56,...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant psychological impact at the population level and fear of ... more The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant psychological impact at the population level and fear of infection is one of the stressors involved. The study aimed to examine fear of infection and associations with university students’ depressive symptoms, substance use, and social contacts during the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany in May 2020. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted at four German universities (n = 5.021, 69% female, mean age: 24 years) as part of the COVID-19 International Student Well-being Study. Fear of infection was assessed using self-generated items, depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Scale (CES-D-8). Associations between fear of infection and depressive symptoms were analyzed with linear regressions, controlling for sociodemographic variables. A total of 34% of the participants reported feeling worried about getting infected themselves, 75% were worried about someone from their personal network getting infected, and 78%...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Tobacco and cannabis use, alcohol consumption and inactivity are health risk behaviors (HRB) of c... more 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 physic...
Background: Results of previous studies examining the impact of the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 o... more Background: Results of previous studies examining the impact of the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 on university students' mental well-being indicated severe mental health consequences. It is unclear how the current COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in study conditions due to federal regulations affected mental well-being in the German student population. We examined university students' perceptions of study conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated associations between study conditions and depressive symptoms.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Germany in May 2020 at four universities (N = 5,021, 69% female, mean age: 24 years, SD: 5.1). Perceived study conditions, as well as sociodemographic information, were assessed with self-generated items and the CES-D 8 scale was used to determine depressive symptoms. Associations between perceived study conditions (academic stress and academic satisfaction), in general, and confidence to complete th...
Background Studies of factors associated with the use of Internet-based health information genera... more Background Studies of factors associated with the use of Internet-based health information generally focus on general, rather than migrant populations. This study looked into the reasons why Internet-based health information is used and the effects of migration-related factors, other socio-demographic characteristics and health-related factors on the tendency to consult the Internet. Methods In a cross-sectional survey conducted in eight superdiverse neighbourhoods - two each in Birmingham, United Kingdom; Bremen, Germany; Lisbon, Portugal and Uppsala, Sweden - participants were presented with six scenarios and asked to indicate the resources they most relied on when addressing a health concern from a given list. The scenarios included establishing the underlying causes of a health concern and seeking information about prescription drugs, treatments and services available as part of the public healthcare system. The list of resources included the public healthcare system, alternativ...
Background: University students are a risk group for heavy substance use and the experience of va... more Background: University students are a risk group for heavy substance use and the experience of various potentially severe negative substance use consequences which may impact on their health, social, and academic functioning. Whilst the experience of negative consequences of substance use is well understood in North American student samples, there is little data on these experiences in European students. In order to develop effective harm prevention and reduction interventions for students’ substance use, there needs to be an understanding of the types of consequences experienced in European student samples. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of the experience of negative substance use-related consequences amongst university students in 7 European countries. Methods: University students (n = 4,482) in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey, and the UK completed an online survey of their substance use behaviours an...
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In epidemiologischen Studien ist die standardisierte Erfassung soziod... more Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In epidemiologischen Studien ist die standardisierte Erfassung soziodemografischer Merkmale von hoher Bedeutung, da Variablen wie Geschlecht, Alter, Bildung oder Erwerbsstatus wichtige Einflussfaktoren auf Gesundheitschancen und Krankheitsrisiken darstellen. In der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie werden zentrale Faktoren aus diesem Themenbereich berücksichtigt. Ziel der Arbeit Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über den wissenschaftlichen Hintergrund und die konkrete Erhebung soziodemografischer Angaben in der NAKO. Zudem werden die Verteilung einzelner Merkmale sowie Zusammenhänge mit gesundheitsassoziierten Maßen exemplarisch vorgestellt. Material und Methoden Anhand der Daten zur Halbzeit der Basiserhebung (n = 101.724) wurde die Verteilung soziodemografischer Merkmale dargestellt und Zusammenhänge mit beispielhaft ausgewählten Gesundheitsindikatoren (Body-Mass-Index, selbst berichtete Gesundheit) analysiert, um die Validität der Messung soziodemografischer Angab...
Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the multi-component health promotion program... more Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the multi-component health promotion program, JolinchenKids – fit and healthy in daycare, designed to promote physical activity (PA), healthy eating, and mental wellbeing among 3- to 6-year-old preschoolers. Methods For this cluster controlled trial, 62 daycare facilities (DFs) from thirteen different federal states in Germany were recruited (31 intervention, 31 control DFs). Outcome measures were children’s habitual PA, fruits and vegetable consumption, consumption of unsweetened beverages and snacks with parents as raters. Study nurses assessed children’s body composition and motor skills. Data was collected at baseline and 12 months later. To track adherence to the implementation of intervention modules at individual DF groups, an implementation calendar was used from baseline to follow-up. Linear mixed models were used to investigate effects for survey, group and their interaction at the individual level while accounting for c...
Background Previous research has suggested that the perceptions students hold about the alcohol u... more Background Previous research has suggested that the perceptions students hold about the alcohol use of their peers are often inaccurate. Students tend to overestimate the peer alcohol use and these misperceptions have been identified to be a predictor of higher personal alcohol consumption. Most studies in this research field come from North-America, the current Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE (SNIPE) study aimed to assess misperceptions of alcohol use among …
International journal of environmental research and public health, Apr 4, 2017
The paper introduces the theoretical framework and methods/instruments used by the Physical Activ... more The paper introduces the theoretical framework and methods/instruments used by the Physical Activity and Health Equity: Primary Prevention for Healthy Ageing (AEQUIPA) prevention research network as an interdisciplinary approach to tackle key challenges in the promotion of physical activity among older people (65+). Drawing on the social-ecological model, the AEQUIPA network developed an interdisciplinary methodological design including quantitative/qualitative studies and systematic reviews, while combining expertise from diverse fields: public health, psychology, urban planning, sports sciences, health technology and geriatrics. AEQUIPA tackles key challenges when promoting physical activity (PA) in older adults: tailoring of interventions, fostering community readiness and participation, strengthening intersectoral collaboration, using new technological devices and evaluating intervention generated inequalities. AEQUIPA aims to strengthen the evidence base for age-specific preven...
Background Daily life of higher education students across the world changed profoundly in 2020 wi... more Background Daily life of higher education students across the world changed profoundly in 2020 with the implementation of governmental and institutional measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated mental wellbeing and engagement in health risk behaviours (HRB) in German university students at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data stem from the COVID-19 International Student Wellbeing Study (C19 ISWS). The web-based survey was conducted in May 2020 at four German universities. HRBs included tobacco and cannabis use, alcohol consumption, and engagement in physical activity. All HRBs were assessed retrospectively and at the time of data collection. Mental wellbeing was assessed using the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D 8). We conducted multinomial regression analyses to investigate factors associated with changes in HRBs and latent transition analysis to identify substance use profiles. Results 5021 students completed the survey (69% female; mean age 24.4 years, SD = 5.1). The mean score for depressive symptoms was 9.25 (SD = 0.67, range 0-24). Sixty-one percent of students reported consuming alcohol, 46% binge drinking, 44% inactivity, 19% smoking and 11% cannabis use. While smoking and cannabis use remained unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic, 24% reported a decrease in binge drinking. Changes to physical activity were frequently reported, with 31% reporting an increase and 19% reporting a decrease in vigorous physical activity. Higher depressive symptoms were found to be associated with changes in HRBs. Five substance use behaviour profiles were identified, which remained fairly unchanged. Conclusions Engagement in HRBs remains at high level during the COVID-19 pandemic among German students. Depressive symptoms were found to be associated with changes in HRBs. Efforts to promote student health and wellbeing are needed in times of the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter to prevent longer-term consequences.
The German National Cohort (NAKO) is a multidisciplinary, population-based prospective cohort stu... more The German National Cohort (NAKO) is a multidisciplinary, population-based prospective cohort study that aims to investigate the causes of widespread diseases, identify risk factors and improve early detection and prevention of disease. Specifically, NAKO is designed to identify novel and better characterize established risk and protection factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory and infectious diseases in a random sample of the general population. Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 205,415 men and women aged 19–74 years were recruited and examined in 18 study centres in Germany. The baseline assessment included a face-to-face interview, self-administered questionnaires and a wide range of biomedical examinations. Biomaterials were collected from all participants including serum, EDTA plasma, buffy coats, RNA and erythrocytes, urine, saliva, nasal swabs and stool. In 56,...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant psychological impact at the population level and fear of ... more The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant psychological impact at the population level and fear of infection is one of the stressors involved. The study aimed to examine fear of infection and associations with university students’ depressive symptoms, substance use, and social contacts during the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany in May 2020. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted at four German universities (n = 5.021, 69% female, mean age: 24 years) as part of the COVID-19 International Student Well-being Study. Fear of infection was assessed using self-generated items, depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Scale (CES-D-8). Associations between fear of infection and depressive symptoms were analyzed with linear regressions, controlling for sociodemographic variables. A total of 34% of the participants reported feeling worried about getting infected themselves, 75% were worried about someone from their personal network getting infected, and 78%...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Tobacco and cannabis use, alcohol consumption and inactivity are health risk behaviors (HRB) of c... more 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 physic...
Background: Results of previous studies examining the impact of the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 o... more Background: Results of previous studies examining the impact of the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 on university students' mental well-being indicated severe mental health consequences. It is unclear how the current COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in study conditions due to federal regulations affected mental well-being in the German student population. We examined university students' perceptions of study conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated associations between study conditions and depressive symptoms.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Germany in May 2020 at four universities (N = 5,021, 69% female, mean age: 24 years, SD: 5.1). Perceived study conditions, as well as sociodemographic information, were assessed with self-generated items and the CES-D 8 scale was used to determine depressive symptoms. Associations between perceived study conditions (academic stress and academic satisfaction), in general, and confidence to complete th...
Background Studies of factors associated with the use of Internet-based health information genera... more Background Studies of factors associated with the use of Internet-based health information generally focus on general, rather than migrant populations. This study looked into the reasons why Internet-based health information is used and the effects of migration-related factors, other socio-demographic characteristics and health-related factors on the tendency to consult the Internet. Methods In a cross-sectional survey conducted in eight superdiverse neighbourhoods - two each in Birmingham, United Kingdom; Bremen, Germany; Lisbon, Portugal and Uppsala, Sweden - participants were presented with six scenarios and asked to indicate the resources they most relied on when addressing a health concern from a given list. The scenarios included establishing the underlying causes of a health concern and seeking information about prescription drugs, treatments and services available as part of the public healthcare system. The list of resources included the public healthcare system, alternativ...
Background: University students are a risk group for heavy substance use and the experience of va... more Background: University students are a risk group for heavy substance use and the experience of various potentially severe negative substance use consequences which may impact on their health, social, and academic functioning. Whilst the experience of negative consequences of substance use is well understood in North American student samples, there is little data on these experiences in European students. In order to develop effective harm prevention and reduction interventions for students’ substance use, there needs to be an understanding of the types of consequences experienced in European student samples. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of the experience of negative substance use-related consequences amongst university students in 7 European countries. Methods: University students (n = 4,482) in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Turkey, and the UK completed an online survey of their substance use behaviours an...
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In epidemiologischen Studien ist die standardisierte Erfassung soziod... more Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In epidemiologischen Studien ist die standardisierte Erfassung soziodemografischer Merkmale von hoher Bedeutung, da Variablen wie Geschlecht, Alter, Bildung oder Erwerbsstatus wichtige Einflussfaktoren auf Gesundheitschancen und Krankheitsrisiken darstellen. In der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie werden zentrale Faktoren aus diesem Themenbereich berücksichtigt. Ziel der Arbeit Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über den wissenschaftlichen Hintergrund und die konkrete Erhebung soziodemografischer Angaben in der NAKO. Zudem werden die Verteilung einzelner Merkmale sowie Zusammenhänge mit gesundheitsassoziierten Maßen exemplarisch vorgestellt. Material und Methoden Anhand der Daten zur Halbzeit der Basiserhebung (n = 101.724) wurde die Verteilung soziodemografischer Merkmale dargestellt und Zusammenhänge mit beispielhaft ausgewählten Gesundheitsindikatoren (Body-Mass-Index, selbst berichtete Gesundheit) analysiert, um die Validität der Messung soziodemografischer Angab...
Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the multi-component health promotion program... more Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the multi-component health promotion program, JolinchenKids – fit and healthy in daycare, designed to promote physical activity (PA), healthy eating, and mental wellbeing among 3- to 6-year-old preschoolers. Methods For this cluster controlled trial, 62 daycare facilities (DFs) from thirteen different federal states in Germany were recruited (31 intervention, 31 control DFs). Outcome measures were children’s habitual PA, fruits and vegetable consumption, consumption of unsweetened beverages and snacks with parents as raters. Study nurses assessed children’s body composition and motor skills. Data was collected at baseline and 12 months later. To track adherence to the implementation of intervention modules at individual DF groups, an implementation calendar was used from baseline to follow-up. Linear mixed models were used to investigate effects for survey, group and their interaction at the individual level while accounting for c...
Background Previous research has suggested that the perceptions students hold about the alcohol u... more Background Previous research has suggested that the perceptions students hold about the alcohol use of their peers are often inaccurate. Students tend to overestimate the peer alcohol use and these misperceptions have been identified to be a predictor of higher personal alcohol consumption. Most studies in this research field come from North-America, the current Social Norms Intervention for the prevention of Polydrug usE (SNIPE) study aimed to assess misperceptions of alcohol use among …
International journal of environmental research and public health, Apr 4, 2017
The paper introduces the theoretical framework and methods/instruments used by the Physical Activ... more The paper introduces the theoretical framework and methods/instruments used by the Physical Activity and Health Equity: Primary Prevention for Healthy Ageing (AEQUIPA) prevention research network as an interdisciplinary approach to tackle key challenges in the promotion of physical activity among older people (65+). Drawing on the social-ecological model, the AEQUIPA network developed an interdisciplinary methodological design including quantitative/qualitative studies and systematic reviews, while combining expertise from diverse fields: public health, psychology, urban planning, sports sciences, health technology and geriatrics. AEQUIPA tackles key challenges when promoting physical activity (PA) in older adults: tailoring of interventions, fostering community readiness and participation, strengthening intersectoral collaboration, using new technological devices and evaluating intervention generated inequalities. AEQUIPA aims to strengthen the evidence base for age-specific preven...
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Papers by Hajo Zeeb