Guessing where the goal posts are: managing health and well-being during the transition to university studies

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that social conditions are directly associated with health and well-being. Significantly little is known about the impact of changing social conditions, including the transition to higher education, on young people's health and well-being. This qualitative research investigated perceptions and factors that influence health and well-being for first year university students. Governmental practices adopted in managing health and well-being during transition to a university context, were also investigated. Empirical data were collected, in 2010, via an online student questionnaire. Participants were completing their first year of study in a School of Health Sciences at an Australian university. They were asked to respond to a series of closed questions to collect demographic data and open-ended questions regarding their perceptions of health and well-being as well as factors that impact on them personally as they transition into university studies. Findings indicate that there are significant factors that impact on student well-being during this transition. These include: geographical relocation, engagement with university learning, sense of community as well as managing time and competing demands. Findings also indicate that whilst young people accept an individualised responsibility managing health and well-being, the social conditions of transition to university render this complex and problematic.

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