PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IN A SAMPLE OF ROMANIAN STUDENTS

Authors

  • Cornelia MĂIREAN
  • Mirabela - Olivia PUNEI
  • Daniela ȘOITU
  • Ruediger TRIMPOP
  • Lena SCHIMITZ

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47743/asas-2022-1-683

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of a scale designed to measure different dimensions of healthy campus among Romanian students. The scale was translated from German language, using the backward translation design. In its original version, the development of the questionnaires for students was carried out with regard to the following dimensions considered relevant for a healthy campus: work/ study conditions (organization, tasks, work/ study environment, social relations, health and safety culture), health (physical and psychological health status, health attitudes, health knowledge, health behavior, nutrition, movement), offers of the university (familiarity, availability, usage, satisfaction, requests), other personal factors (mobility, satisfaction, coping strategies, commitment, self-efficacy, work-life-balance), changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a judgmental review of the adapted test and the revision of the adaptation, we selected a sample of 470 students, that filled in the scale including items that cover the above mentioned dimensions and demographic information. It took about 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire. The participants signed an informed consent and the anonymity and confidentiality of the answers were assured. An exploratory factorial analysis and analysis of reliability were conducted based on the collected data. Further, gender differences and correlations between factors were explored. The results sustain the structure of the scale with six factors. Practical implications of the results are discussed.

Author Biographies

Cornelia MĂIREAN

Assoc. prof. dr., Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, T. Cozma str., no. 3, Iaşi

Mirabela - Olivia PUNEI

Student, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, T. Cozam str no. 3, Iaşi

Daniela ȘOITU

Prof. dr. Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy and Social-Political Sciences,  Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, Carol I bdv. No. 11, 700506

Ruediger TRIMPOP

Prof. dr. Lehrstuhl Arbeits-,Betriebs-Organisationspsychologie, Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena, Humboldtstr. 27, 07743 Jena, Germany; 

Lena SCHIMITZ

Master student, Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena, Humboldtstr. 27, 07743 Jena, Germany

References

Aniţei, M., & Chraif, M. (2013). A Correlative Study between Perceived Stressors and Positive and Negative Emotions at Young Romanian Students – A Pilot Study. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 76, 39–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.04.070

Capone, V., Caso, D., Donizzetti, A. R., & Procentese, F. (2020). University Student Mental Well-Being during COVID-19 Outbreak: What Are the Relationships between Information Seeking, Perceived Risk and Personal Resources Related to the Academic Context? Sustainability, 12(17), 7039. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177039

Cazan, A. M., & Truta, C. (2015). Stress, resilience and life satisfaction in college students. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 48, 95.

Cox, A. M., & Brewster, L. (2020). Services for Student Well-Being in Academic Libraries: Three Challenges. New Review of Academic Librarianship, 27(2), 149–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2019.1678493

Denovan, A., & Macaskill, A. (2017). Stress and Subjective Well-Being Among First Year UK Undergraduate Students. Journal of Happiness Studies, 18(2), 505–525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9736-y

Fletcher, G. F., Landolfo, C., Niebauer, J., Ozemek, C., Arena, R., & Lavie, C. J. (2018). Promoting physical activity and exercise: JACC health promotion series. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(14), 1622-1639.

Flinchbaugh, C. L., Moore, E. W. G., Chang, Y. K., & May, D. R. (2012). Student well-being interventions: The effects of stress management techniques and gratitude journaling in the management education classroom. Journal of Management Education, 36(2), 191-219.

Giusta, M. D., Hashimzade, N., & Myles, G. D. (2017). Schooling and the intergenerational transmission of values. Journal of Public Economic Theory, 19(1), 1-17.

Hambleton, R. K., & Lee, M. K. (2013). Methods for translating and adapting tests to increase cross-language validity. In D. H. Saklofske, C. R. Reynolds, & V. L. Schwean (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of child psychological assessment (pp. 172–181). Oxford University Press.

Hambleton, R. K., & Zenisky, A. L. (2011). Translating and adapting tests for cross-cultural assessments. In D. Matsumoto & F. J. R. van de Vijver (Eds.), Cross-cultural research methods in psychology (pp. 46–74). Cambridge University Press.

Hogan, T. P. (2019). Psychological testing: A practical introduction. John Wiley & Sons.

Hochbaum, G. M. (1958). Public participation in medical screening programs: A socio-psychological study (No. 572). US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Bureau of State Services, Division of Special Health Services, Tuberculosis Program.

Kohls, E., Baldofski, S., Moeller, R., Klemm, S. L., & Rummel-Kluge, C. (2021). Mental health, social and emotional well-being, and perceived burdens of university students during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Germany. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 643957.

Kovacs, K. (2014). The impact of sports on above-the-average and high-performing students achievements in Hungarian and Romanian higher education institutions. Journal of social science research, 5(3), 794–802. https://doi.org/10.24297/jssr.v5i3.3379

Kurebayashi, L. F. S., Prado, J. M. D., & Silva, M. J. P. D. (2012). Correlations between stress and anxiety levels in nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v2n3p128

Panisoara, I. O., Panisoara, G., Ghita, C., & Chirca, R. (2018). Subjective well-being among Romanian students: Analysis of the potential for cross-cultural comparisons. Psychreg Journal of Psychology, 2(2), 66-73.

Plakhotnik, M. S., Volkova, N. V., Jiang, C., Yahiaoui, D., Pheiffer, G., McKay, K., Newman, S., & Reißig-Thust, S. (2021). The Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Student Well-Being and the Mediating Role of the University Support: Evidence From France, Germany, Russia, and the UK. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.642689

Prochaska, J. O., & DiClemente, C. C. (1983). Stages and processes of self-change of smoking: toward an integrative model of change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(3), 390.

Sandu, P., Chereches, R. M., Baba, C. O., Revnic, R. N., & Mocean, F. (2018). Environmental influences on physical activity – Romanian youths’ perspectives. Children and Youth Services Review, 95, 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.10.020

Schmitz, L., Wenzel, J., Hoppe, J., & Trimpop, R. (2022). Gefährdungsbeurteilung psychischer Belastungen und Interventionsmaßnahmen zur Gesundheitsförderung für Studierende. Wenninger, G. (Hrsg.). Psychologie der Arbeitssicherheit und Gesundheit. 22. Workshop. Asanger

Silișteanu, S. C., Totan, M., Antonescu, O. R., Duică, L., Antonescu, E., & Silișteanu, A. E. (2022). The Impact of COVID-19 on Behavior and Physical and Mental Health of Romanian College Students. Medicina, 58(2), 246. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/medicina58020246

Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Litster, J., del Casale, R., & Stenling, A. (2022). Is a female physical empowerment campaign effective in improving positive body image, motivation for physical activity, and physical activity behavior in young female adults? A two-study experimental test of „This Girl Can.” Body Image, 42, 150–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.06.001

Trimpop, R. (2014) Die gesunde Organisation: Konzeption des empiriebasierten Modell HOPES (Health-Organisation-Person-Environment-System) In: Eigenstetter, M., Kunz, T., Portune, & R. Trimpop, R. (Hrsg. (2014). Psychologie der Arbeitssicherheit und Gesundheit: 18. Workshop. Heidelberg: Asanger. S.241-244.

Trimpop, R. (2021). Präventions- und Gesundheitskultur an der Hochschule. In Trimpop, R., Fischbach, A., Seliger, I., Lynnyk, A., Kleineidam, N., & Große-Jäger, A. (Hrsg.). Psychologie der Arbeitssicherheit und Gesundheit. 21. Workshop - Ergänzungsband (S. 69-72). Kröning. Asanger

Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., McIntyre, R. S., Choo, F. N., Tran, B., Ho, R., Sharma, V. K., & Ho, C. (2020). A longitudinal study on the mental health of general population during the COVID-19 epidemic in China. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 87, 40–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.04.028

Yikealo, D., Yemane, B., & Karvinen, I. (2018). The Level of Academic and Environmental Stress among College Students: A Case in the College of Education. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 06(11), 40–57. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2018.611004

Additional Files

Published

29-07-2022