Savage Matthew J, Healy Laura C, Procter Eleanor L, Hennis Philip J, James Ruth M
Diabetes Research Centre, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
SHAPE Research Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Mar 18;25(1):1048. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21759-8.
University students are a population notorious for developing adverse markers of health and related behaviours that can have negative consequences for current and future health status. However, there is a dearth of literature devoted to identifying students at greater risk of developing poorer health-related outcomes. The current study aimed to identify characteristics of UK university students at risk of developing adverse markers of health and related behaviours across one year at university.
Four hundred and thirty-eight students completed an online self-report survey to assess markers of health and related behaviours in term one (October) and term three (April) in one of three academic years (2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24). Latent Profile Transition analysis was employed to generate health-related profiles and assess transitions over time.
Four latent profiles were detected, largely influenced by physical activity behaviours and psychological markers. The majority of students were identified in profiles considered as less healthy and remained in those profiles over time. Women and trans and gender diverse (TGD) students, and students in their second year at university were at greatest risk of being in, and remaining in, less healthful profiles.
Most students identify and remain in less healthful profiles throughout the academic year. Students that transition between profiles are more likely to transition to less healthful profiles. Work to develop bespoke interventions aimed at students with higher-risk demographic characteristics should now be prioritised.
大学生群体因出现健康不良指标及相关行为而声名狼藉，这些指标和行为会对当前及未来的健康状况产生负面影响。然而，专门针对识别更易出现较差健康相关结果风险的学生的文献却很匮乏。本研究旨在确定英国大学生在大学一学年中出现健康不良指标及相关行为风险的特征。
438名学生完成了一项在线自我报告调查，以评估三个学年（2021 - 22年、2022 - 23年和2023 - 24年）中第一学期（10月）和第三学期（4月）的健康指标及相关行为。采用潜在剖面转换分析来生成与健康相关的剖面，并评估随时间的转换情况。
检测到四个潜在剖面，很大程度上受身体活动行为和心理指标的影响。大多数学生被归类为健康状况较差的剖面，且随着时间推移一直保持在这些剖面中。女性、跨性别和性别多样化（TGD）学生以及大学二年级学生处于并保持在健康状况较差剖面的风险最大。
大多数学生在整个学年中都处于并保持在健康状况较差的剖面。在不同剖面之间转换的学生更有可能转换到健康状况较差的剖面。现在应优先开展针对具有高风险人口统计学特征学生的定制干预措施。
