Academic Journal
Health behaviour interventions to improve mental health outcomes for students in the university setting: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials
| Title: | Health behaviour interventions to improve mental health outcomes for students in the university setting: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials |
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| Authors: | Sandya Streram, Tracy Burrows, Mitch J. Duncan, Melinda Hutchesson |
| Source: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Vol 22, Iss 1, Pp 1-22 (2025) |
| Publisher Information: | BMC, 2025. |
| Publication Year: | 2025 |
| Collection: | LCC:Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases LCC:Public aspects of medicine |
| Subject Terms: | University student, Health behaviour (MeSH), Mental health, Systematic review, Sleep (MeSH), Exercise (MeSH), Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases, RC620-627, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270 |
| More Details: | Abstract Background University students incur significantly elevated levels of stress compared to the general population and their non-student counterparts. Health risk behaviours are important modifiable determinants for the onset and aggravation of various mental health disorders, in which, university students generally exhibit poor engagement. Thus, this study aims to determine the efficacy of health behaviour interventions in relation to change in health behaviour and mental health outcomes, the impact of interventions (i.e., penetration, fidelity, and implementation), intervention characteristics associated with improved outcomes (efficacy) and the economic evaluation of interventions. Methods Six electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCT) published from the 1st January 2012 to 11th July 2023. Eligible RCTs included university students, evaluated behavioural interventions targeting health behaviours (i.e. dietary intake, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, alcohol use, substance use, smoking, and sleep) and reported a change in both health behaviour and mental health outcomes. Results Twenty-two RCTs met the study inclusion criteria. Overall, only seven studies were effective in improving both health behaviour and mental health outcomes, with most (n = 4) focused on improving sleep behaviours. Insufficient evidence was found regarding intervention impact, intervention characteristics associated with improved outcomes and the economic evaluation of interventions to guide future implementation of health behaviour interventions in universities due to inadequate reporting of outcomes. Conclusions There is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of health behaviour interventions in improving both health behaviour and mental health outcomes. There is also insufficient evidence regarding intervention impact, intervention characteristics associated with improved outcomes and economic evaluation to guide the implementation of these interventions in the university setting. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1479-5868 |
| Relation: | https://doaj.org/toc/1479-5868 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s12966-025-01718-7 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/bee174b7538841baad8fadbb7c57f239 |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.bee174b7538841baad8fadbb7c57f239 |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
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| ISSN: | 14795868 |
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| DOI: | 10.1186/s12966-025-01718-7 |
| Published in: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Language: | English |