[Health and study load among students: a cross-sectional health study at the University of Kassel].

Abstract

Introduction: Relatively little is known about students' health and illness. Their effects on academic success have hardly been researched. The aim of the study is to examine associations between health status and study load completed among students.

Methods: Of 23,699 students enrolled at the University of Kassel, 3330 participated in the voluntary survey (computer-assisted web interviews) in March 2022. The response rate was 14.1% under conditions of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Results: In all, 80.5% of students rated their general health status as very good or good. There were significant differences between men and women in terms of general health status (84.4% vs. 78.6%) and the global activity limitation indicator (GALI). Women were more often than men severely limited in usual activities due to health problems (3.2% vs. 2.6%) or limited but not severely (9.6% vs. 5.7%) for at least the past 6 months. Reported prevalence rates of mental illness were striking. They were higher in women than in men (25.3% vs. 15.4%). Furthermore, 15.1% of students reported that their study load completed was "much less" than required by the study regulations of current degree programs. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that students who were limited in activities of daily life because of a health problem had a significantly increased odds ratio of 1.56 (95%-confidence interval [CI] 1.07-2.27) for a much lower study load, and those students who were severely limited had a significantly increased odds ratio of 2.81 (95%-CI 1.64-4.80).

Conclusion: The study identified strong associations between health and study load. It points out the need not only for more health promotion but also for health management for students with disabilities and limitations due to health problems.