The transition into university is a period of major lifestyle change, yet limited evidence has tracked how student health behaviours and mental wellbeing are shifting over time. This research examined trends in diet, physical activity, sleep, sedentary behaviour and substance use, alongside psychological distress, in first-year Australian university students across four cohorts from 2016 to 2020.
Using data from nearly 2,800 students, this research found a clear rise in psychological distress, increasing from around one-third of students in 2016 to more than half by 2020. Several health behaviours declined over the same period, including reduced breakfast consumption and consistently low rates of adequate physical activity and sleep. These patterns suggest that multiple lifestyle risks are becoming more common during the first year of university, contributing to a growing mental-health burden.
For universities, the findings highlight the need for early, campus-wide wellbeing initiatives that support healthy eating, regular movement, good sleep and reduced substance use.
Citation: Knapp, A., Burrows, T., Whatnall, M., Leigh, L., Leask, S., & Hutchesson, M. Trends in Health-Risk Behaviors and Psychological Distress among Australian First-Year University Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2024. (link)
