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The relationship between mental and physical health: a longitudinal analysis with British student

Megan Jansen (Mental Health Recovery Team, Solent NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK and School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK)
Chloe Chapman (Mental Health Recovery Team, Solent NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK and School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK)
Thomas Richardson (Mental Health Recovery Team, Solent NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK and School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK)
Peter Elliott (School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK)
Ron Roberts (Department of Psychology, Kingston University, London, UK)

Journal of Public Mental Health

ISSN: 1746-5729

Article publication date: 12 July 2022

Issue publication date: 16 August 2022

398

Abstract

Purpose

Previous studies in the field have highlighted a bidirectional link between mental health and physical health. Students may be at a higher risk of both mental and physical health problems because of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and the commencement of university occurring at the same mean age of onset for many psychiatric disorders. This study aims to examine how physical health variables influence changes in mental health symptoms, and vice versa, over time, in a sample of British undergraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal design over a one-year time period. A national sample of 430 British undergraduate students completed measures of mental health and physical health online at up to four time-points across their first two years of university.

Findings

General physical health and energy and fatigue predicted more severe depression, anxiety, stress and poorer general mental health over time. Depression and stress predicted poorer physical functioning over time. Greater anxiety predicted poorer general health and more severe pain over time. General mental health was not predictive of general physical health. Overall, poor general physical health appears to exacerbate mental health symptoms in students to a greater extent than mental health problems lead to a deterioration in physical health.

Originality/value

This study adds a longitudinal design to a field that is usually cross-sectional, as well as a lack of consideration of how this relationship may differ within student samples. Early interventions should integrate physical and mental well-being rather than focus on any single health-related behaviour.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Research Capability Fund.

Citation

Jansen, M., Chapman, C., Richardson, T., Elliott, P. and Roberts, R. (2022), "The relationship between mental and physical health: a longitudinal analysis with British student", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 218-225. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-11-2021-0147

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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