Mental health of elementary students at the Medical University Graz

Abstract

Background: Mental health and wellbeing are essential conditions for subjective quality of life as well as for productivity. Gruenbuch (2004) postulates that mental health, independent lifetime organisation and coping strategies encourage student’s satisfaction and productivity. Recent studies showed that non-academic young adults have less emotional stress than medical students. The aim of the study was to investigate the mental health status of elementary students in the first semester. Methods: The questionnaire “Mental Health of Students in Greifswald†measures parameters for mental health and wellbeing, such as physical health, motivation, social support, psychosomatic affections, skills for time management and self organisation as well as work load and stress due to studying. One-hundred-sixty students completed the questionnaire during the first semester. Findings: The students are highly motivated and show high competences in coping strategies at the beginning of the first semester. Social support and self-organisation skills are related to coping strategies and motivation. Discussion: Regarding this result, it has to be important to protect and improve the mental health status according the criteria from burn-out-prevention, time management and furthermore wellbeing.