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Rouvinen H, Turunen H, Lindfors P, Kinnunen JM, Rimpelä A, Koivusilta L, Kulmala M, Dadaczynski K, Okan O, Sormunen M. Online health information-seeking behaviour and mental well-being among Finnish higher education students during COVID-19. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:daad143. [PMID: 37935171 PMCID: PMC10635413 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Online health information-seeking behaviour has increased since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020. This study examined whether health-related information on COVID-19 searched on the internet was associated with mental well-being among higher education students. A cross-sectional internet survey was conducted among 18- to 34-year-old students in Finland (N = 2976; mean age 24.61 years and median 24) in the spring of 2020. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric H tests, and a two-way ANOVA. The results indicated that most students (86% of females, 82% of males) used the internet to search for information on COVID-19. Students' self-perceived abilities to determine the relevance of online information on COVID-19 were associated with mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Rouvinen
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia Building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannele Turunen
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia Building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Wellbeing Services County of North Savo, PO Box 1711, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pirjo Lindfors
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jaana M Kinnunen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Arja Rimpelä
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
- Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, Elämänaukio 2, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Leena Koivusilta
- Department of Social Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Markus Kulmala
- Research Centre for Health Promotion, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Keskussairaalankatu 4, Building Liikunta (L), PO Box 35, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Kevin Dadaczynski
- Department of Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany
- Centre for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University, Lueneburg, Germany
| | - Orkan Okan
- Center for Health and Medicine in Society and Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Childhood and Adolescence, Department of Health and Sport Sciences, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marjorita Sormunen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Rouvinen H, Sormunen M, Kunttu K, Turunen H. Internet, studying and daily rhythm: health symptoms among higher education students. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2023; 35:219-226. [PMID: 36947850 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2022-0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Excessive Internet use is a health concern among higher education students leading to reduced academic performance and problems in everyday life. This study aimed to explore the relationship between health and problems of studying and daily rhythm caused by time spent online among students (n=3,050). METHODS A cross-sectional survey was carried out. The data were analyzed using descriptive and chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Findings indicated that one fifth of students reported having problems of studying and daily rhythm caused by time spent online. Psychological health symptoms such as anxiety (p<0.001) and physical health symptoms including lower back problems (p<0.001) were associated with these problems. According to the logistic regression analyses, problems of studying and daily rhythm caused by time spent online and higher amount of Internet use by time were associated with psychological and physical health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that problems of studying and daily rhythm and spending more time online are related to health symptoms among the students. The study's findings can be used from a prevention standpoint for early identification and further to identify the need for seeking professional treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Rouvinen
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marjorita Sormunen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Hannele Turunen
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Zayed MA, Elshaer IA. Physical Activities and Learning Experience of Higher Education Students: Mediating Role of Quality of Life and Physical Self-Esteem. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:13417. [PMID: 36293998 PMCID: PMC9602441 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of physical activities (PAs) on psychological and physical health consequences have been examined in both nonclinical and clinical contexts. Although PAs' influences on physical consequences are regularly beneficial, the psychological positive impacts are less well-understood. This study investigates the effects of PA on physical consequences (i.e., physical self-esteem) and psychological and cognitive consequences (i.e., quality of life and learning experience). PA has been found to improve quality of life (QOL), learning experience (LP), and physical self-esteem. Mixed findings from prior studies suggested that the relationship between these variables might be direct or indirect. Data were collected via a self-administrated questionnaire from 510 higher education students in different Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) universities. The collected data were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) and the SmartPLS 4 program. The SEM results show that PAs directly help in enhancing the student learning experience. The results support the mediating role of student physical self-esteem and quality of life in the relationship between physical activities and learning experience. Several theoretical and practical implications were elaborated on and discussed, along with limitations and further research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A. Zayed
- Deanship of Student Affairs, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Fitness, Gymnastics and Sports Show, Faculty of Physical Education Alexandria University, Alexandria 21625, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim A. Elshaer
- Management Department, College of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
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