ABSTRACT
Introduction Vaccination behaviour is influenced by various determinants. Evidence indicates a higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among university students due to their age and a lower risk of complications compared to the general population in Germany. However, little is known about other COVID-19-related determinants for the population of German university students. This study aimed to investigate determinants of vaccination behaviour among German university students. Methods The cross-sectional COVID-19 German Student Well-being Study was conducted at five German universities at the end of 2021 via an online survey (n = 7.267). Multiple logistic regressions were calculated to examine associations of vaccination behaviour (not vaccinated vs. fully vaccinated) and attitudes towards vaccination (5Cs: confidence in the safety of the vaccine, complacency - not perceiving diseases as high risk, constraints - structural and psychological barriers, calculation - engagement in information seeking, collective responsibility - willingness to protect others), health literacy in a pandemic (CHL-P), and additional determinants. Results All 5Cs were associated with the vaccination status ‘fully vaccinated’, except for complacency. Regarding CHL-P, we found that students who felt that the current scientific knowledge about COVID-19 in terms of the policy decisions on pandemic measures was very complex had a higher odds for being vaccinated (OR = 3.02;95% CI: 2.26-4.04). Regarding additional determinants, the analysis revealed that students who had been previously infected had in all regressions a lower odds for being vaccinated compared to students with no previous infection. Conclusions Due to the strong association of the attitudes towards vaccination and vaccination behaviour among university students, we recommend that the different components of the 5Cs should be considered in future COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in the university context. Key messages Attitudes towards vaccinations impact on vaccination behaviour among university students. Perceiving the current scientific knowledge on COVID-19 as very complex increased the odds for vaccination.
ABSTRACT
Introduction The influence of social crises in their objective quality as well as their subjective processing on health well-being has been researched many times. The loss of agency that can be observed in the course of social crises is considered to be a negative mediating factor between both variables. The Corona pandemic was also associated with a loss of options and routines for action for most of the population. Methods We conducted two quantitative surveys on mental health in the pandemic in spring 2020 and autumn 2021. While the first international comparative survey was conducted under the auspices of the University of Antwerp, the second was carried out at five German universities. Results The quantitative data show the negative impact of the pandemic on students’ mental health - CES-D 8 (0 to 24) (x¯2020=9.22, x¯2021=9.38). They also show a negative correlation between whether students’ concerns are sufficiently considered by policy makers in the pandemic and depressive symptomatology (r=-0.146, p < 0.01). That is, the less satisfied students are with political measures, the lower the depressive symptomatology. Conlusion Against the background of the socio-psychological inequality study ‘Die Arbeitslosen von Marienthal', which is considered a classic, this connection is far less paradoxical than might initially be assumed if one interprets political awareness as a correlate of a subjectively perceived power to act, which has a positive effect on mental health. Based on this thesis, we have opted for a mixed-methods design and are conducting qualitative interviews on subjective crisis processing, the results of which we will be able to present at the conference. Key messages • Subjectively perceived agency reduces the health-reducing effect of social crises. • Students are a relevant group to learn from for capacity building.
ABSTRACT
Background Anxiety is widespread among university students. The COVID-19 pandemic af-fected students’ mental health negatively. Given the long duration of the pandemic monitoring mental health remains important. This study aims to determine to which extent anxiety is preva-lent among students (1), what factors are associated with it (2) and which student groups are mostly affected (3). Methods The cross-sectional COVID-19 German Student Well-being Study (C19 GSWS) sur-veyed mental health and well-being of students at five universities in Germany from 27.10.-14.11.21. Anxiety was assessed using the GAD-2. Associations between anxiety and sociodem-ographic, socioeconomic/social support factors as well as health- and COVID-19-related factors were determined using multiple binary logistic regression models. Results The mean age of students was 24.1 years (SD = 4.9), 67% were women and 31% men. The prevalence of anxiety was 32% and diverse gender (OR = 3.98, 95% CI: 1.71-9.23), a com-plicated relationship status (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.06-2.60), the lack of a confidant (OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.80-3.46), and financial difficulties (e.g., being able to cover monthly expenses;OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.36-2.29) were associated with anxiety. Participants who were worried about (re)infection with COVID-19 had a 1.28-times higher chance (OR, 95% CI: 1.03-1.59) for anxie-ty. Students who were (rather) not worried that a relative would become severely ill with COVID-19 had a lower chance to experience anxiety (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53-0.98) as well as those who were confident receiving medical care in case of an infection with COVID-19 (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65-0.98). Conclusions Concepts for prevention and counselling in terms of mental health problems in students should be developed considering specific stressors due to the pandemic. Key messages • This study shows that anxiety is widespread among university students and associated with a variety of stressors. • The findings can help to develop specific concepts for prevention and counselling.