TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Carsten A1 - El-Ansari, Kareem A1 - El Ansari, Walid T1 - Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mental Health among University Students: Do Sex and Academic Level Matter? JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health N2 - University students’ mental health and well-being is a growing public health concern. There is a lack of studies assessing a broad range of mental health domains by sex and academic level of study. This cross-sectional online survey of BSc, MSc, and PhD students (n = 3353, 67% female) enrolled at one university in Germany assessed a wide scope of mental health domains, covering positive (i.e., self-rated health, self-esteem, student engagement) and negative aspects (i.e., perceived stress, irritation, and screening positive for depression, anxiety, comorbidity, and psychological distress). We evaluated differences in mental health by sex and academic level. Overall, although self-rated health did not differ by sex and academic level, females and lower academic level were associated with less favorable mental health. Males reported higher prevalence of high self-esteem, and higher engagement (all p ≤ 0.04). Conversely, mean perceived stress and cognitive/emotional irritation were higher among females, as were rates for positive screenings for anxiety, anxiety and depression comorbidity, and psychological distress (p < 0.001 for all). Likewise, lower academic level (BSc) was associated with lower rates of high self-esteem (p ≤ 0.001), increased perceived stress (p < 0.001), and higher prevalence of positive screening for depression, anxiety, comorbidity, and psychological distress (p ≤ 0.002 for all), while higher academic level (PhD) was linked to increased student engagement (p < 0.001 for all). Although the effect sizes of sex and academic level on student mental health were modest, these findings support a need for action to establish and expand early detection and prevention programs, on-campus advisory services, and peer counseling that focus on the sex-specific and academic-study-level-specific factors, as well as mental health and career development resources for students. Academics and policy makers need to consider multipronged intervention strategies to boost confidence of students and their academic career. KW - health psychology KW - academic achievement KW - mental health KW - students Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-156952 VL - 19 IS - 19 SP - 12670 EP - 12670 PB - MDPI ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Carsten A1 - El-Ansari, Kareem A1 - El Ansari, Walid T1 - Health Promoting Behavior and Lifestyle Characteristics of Students as a Function of Sex and Academic Level JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health N2 - University students frequently engage in unhealthy behaviors. However, there is a lack of studies examining a wide range of their lifestyle characteristics by sex and academic level of study. This cross-sectional survey of students enrolled in BSc, MSc, or PhD programs at one university in Germany (N = 3389) assessed physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), nutrition, sleep quality, and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use by sex and academic level and was conducted with EvaSys version 8.0. Chi-squared tests compared categorical variables by sex, and binary logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex with Bonferroni adjustments evaluated differences across academic level. Although 91% of students achieved the aerobic PA guidelines, only 30% achieved the muscle strengthening exercises (MSE) guidelines, and 44% had high SB. Likewise, <10% met the fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) recommendations, >40% of students experienced impaired sleep, and >30% had hazardous alcohol consumption. Less than 20% of the sample achieved the guideline/recommendation of all three PA, MSE and SB. Some behaviors exhibited significant sex and academic level differences. The identified at-risk groups included males (lower FVC), females (eating more during stress), and BSc students (poorer nutrition/sleep quality, more ATOD use). Given the above findings, multipronged strategies are needed with an overarching focus highlighting the health–academic achievement links. Behavioral interventions and environmental policies are required to raise awareness and promote student health. KW - college students KW - sedentary behavior KW - resistance training KW - healthy diet KW - sleep quality Y1 - 2022 UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/12/7539 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127539 VL - 19 IS - 12 SP - 1 EP - 18 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Carsten T1 - External Load Analysis in Beach Handball Using a Local Positioning System and Inertial Measurement Units JF - Sensors N2 - Beach handball is a young discipline that is characterized by numerous high-intensity actions. By following up on previous work, the objective was to perform in-depth analyses evaluating external load (e.g., distance traveled, velocity, changes in direction, etc.) in beach handball players. In cross-sectional analyses, data of 69 players belonging to the German national or prospective team were analyzed during official tournaments using a local positioning system (10 Hz) and inertial measurement units (100 Hz). Statistical analyses comprised the comparison of the first and second set and the effects of age and sex (female adolescents vs. male adolescents vs. male adults) and playing position (goalkeepers, defenders, wings, specialists, and pivots) on external load measures. We found evidence for reduced external workload during the second set of the matches (p = 0.005, ηp2 = 0.09), as indicated by a significantly lower player load per minute and number of changes in direction. Age/sex (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.22) and playing position (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.29) also had significant effects on external load. The present data comprehensively describe and analyze important external load measures in a sample of high-performing beach handball players, providing valuable information to practitioners and coaches aiming at improving athletic performance in this new sport. KW - performance analysis KW - load analysis KW - player load KW - inertial movement analysis Y1 - 2022 UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/8/3011 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s22083011 VL - 22 IS - 8 SP - 1 EP - 14 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Carsten T1 - Zusammenhang zwischen selbstberichteter körperlicher Aktivität gemäß nationaler Bewegungsempfehlungen und mentaler Gesundheit Studierender JF - Bewegungstherapie und Gesundheitssport N2 - Studien haben wiederholt auf eine hohe Beschwerdelast Studierender hingewiesen und Hochschulen veranlasst, sich zunehmend im studentischen Gesundheitsmanagement zu engagieren, das darauf abzielt, gesundheitsfördernde Strukturen zu entwickeln sowie individuelle Ressourcen im Setting Hochschule zu fördern. Die körperliche Aktivität und mentale Gesundheit Studierender stellen hierfür Ansatzpunkte dar. International zeigen sich eindeutige Zusammenhänge zwischen dem Bewegungsverhalten Studierender und der psychischen Gesundheit, jedoch liegen bisher nur wenige nationale Erhebungen vor, was die Übertragbarkeit auf die deutsche Hochschullandschaft einschränkt. Dieser Beitrag untersucht, wie in dieser Zielgruppe die aktuellen Bewegungsempfehlungen, bestehend aus den Kategorien ausdauerorientierte körperliche Aktivitäten, Sitzzeiten und muskelkräftigende Aktivitäten, mit verschiedenen Indikatoren mentaler Gesundheit zusammenhängen. Im Sommersemester 2019 nahmen 4.244 Studierende an einer hochschulweiten Umfrage teil. Neben dem Bewegungsverhalten wurden das Stresserleben erhoben und Screenings auf Kernelemente einer depressiven und angstbezogenen Störung sowie auf eine psychische Belastung durchgeführt. Positive Aspekte mentaler Gesundheit wurden über eine Skala zur Beurteilung studentischen Engagements erfasst. Als Assoziationsmaß wurden adjustierte Odds Ratios unter Berücksichtigung soziodemografischer und behavioraler Störvariablen berechnet. Sämtliche Kriterien der Bewegungsempfehlungen werden von 9,6% der Studierenden erreicht. 48% der Befragten weisen ein hohes Stresserleben auf und 29% gelten als psychisch belastet. Das Befolgen aller Kriterien der Bewegungsempfehlungen ist mit signifikant geringeren Chancen für psychische Belastungsindikatoren assoziiert, wobei der stärkste Zusammenhang für depressive Symptome gefunden wurde. Studentisches Engagement war nicht signifikant mit dem Erreichen der Bewegungsempfehlungen assoziiert. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen die hohe psychische Belastung Studierender und deuten das Optimierungspotenzial aus Sicht der Bewegungsförderung an. Hochschulen sollten die Studienbedingungen und das Gesundheitsverhalten der Studierenden systematisch und fortlaufend analysieren, um geeignete verhaltens- und verhältnisorientierte Maßnahmen wie bewegungsorientierte Lehre, Campusentwicklung und Ausbau des Hochschulsportangebots abzuleiten und zu evaluieren. KW - Sedentäres Verhalten KW - Stress KW - Angst KW - Depression KW - Engagement Y1 - 2022 UR - https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-1820-0330 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-1820-0330 VL - 38 IS - 03 SP - 120 EP - 128 ER -