Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2)

Health and Well-being of Students at Higher Education Institutions - Time for Urgent Action?

Walid El Ansari

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):67 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.b0001  

Welcome to this special themed edition of the Central European Journal of Public Health. The seven articles published in this issue, dedicated to the health and well-being of higher education institutions students, present research pertaining to students from several high, low and middle-income countries across several continents. Taken together, CEJPH hopes that these studies bestow a rich and multi-perspective offering on the subject. Indeed, geographically, these students are enrolled at universities, colleges, and higher technical institutions located in culturally and politically diverse nations such as Egypt, the United Kingdom, Palestine, the...

Symptoms and Health Complaints and Their Association with Perceived Stress at University: Survey of Students at Eleven Faculties in Egypt

Walid El Ansari, Reza Oskrochi, Shokria Labeeb, Christiane Stock

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):68-79 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3873  

Aims: This study examined the relationships between perceived stress and a range of self reported symptoms and health complaints in a representative sample of students at one university in Egypt. Methods: The data (3,271 students) was collected during the academic year 2009-2010 at eleven faculties at the university of Assiut city, Egypt. A self-administered questionnaire measured health complaints (22 symptoms) and Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale. Socio-demographic and lifestyle data were also collected. Factor analysis generated four groups of health complaints: psychological, circulatory/breathing, gastrointestinal, and pains/aches,...

Smoking, Awareness of Smoking-associated Health Risks, and Knowledge of National Tobacco Legislation in Gaza, Palestine

Reem T. Abu Shomar, Ihab K. Lubbad, Walid El Ansari, Issam A. Al-Khatib, Hatem J. Alharazin

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):80-89 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4005  

Aims: To assess university students' extent of smoking, knowledge of smoking health risks, and awareness of existing national anti-smoking laws. Methods: Self-administered questionnaire was employed across 7 universities (1,104 students, equal proportions of males and females) located in Gaza Strip, Palestine. Results: About 55% of participants reported ever smoking, 31% were current cigarette smokers, and 36% were 'strictly' (only) narghile (water pipe) smokers. Mean age of smoking initiation was 17±3.15 years. Smokers had less knowledge of smoking associated health risks than nonsmokers. Students' knowledge of existing...

Food and Mental Health: Relationship between Food and Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms among University Students in the United Kingdom

Walid El Ansari, Hamed Adetunji, Reza Oskrochi

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):90-97 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3941  

Aims: The current study assessed, by university and sex, the association between nutritional behaviour (twelve independent variables), and stress and depressive symptoms (dependent variables) in a sample from three UK countries. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among undergraduates enrolled across seven universities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (N=3,706). Self-administered questionnaires included a 12-item food frequency questionnaire, Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale and modified Beck Depression Inventory. Sex and university comparisons were undertaken. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were computed...

Physical Activity and Gender Differences: Correlates of Compliance with Recommended Levels of Five Forms of Physical Activity among Students at Nine Universities in Libya

Walid El Ansari, Khalid Khalil, Diane Crone, Christiane Stock

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):98-105 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4011  

Aims: This cross-sectional survey assessed and compared by gender the levels and correlates of achieving the international guidelines recommendations on five forms of physical activity (PA) (walking, moderate PA, vigorous PA, moderate or vigorous PA - MVPA, and muscle-strengthening PA). We examined the associations between achieving the international guidelines recommendations on five forms of PA and a variety of sociodemographic, health and academic performance variables. Methods: Data was collected across nine Libyan universities (2008-2009, representative sample of 1,300 undergraduates). A self-administered questionnaire assessed frequency...

Body Image Concerns: Levels, Correlates and Gender Differences among Students in the United Kingdom

Walid El Ansari, Emily Dibba, Christiane Stock

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):106-117 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3944  

Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the socio-demographic, lifestyle and well-being variables that are associated with body image concerns (BIC) and whether these associations differed between female and male students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey; 3,706 undergraduate students (2,699 females, 765 males) from seven universities in the UK completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed socio-demographic, lifestyle, well-being and BIC based on the Body Shape Questionnaire developed by Cooper et al. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis examined the odds ratios for the association between four increasing...

Ethical Concerns and Contributions in Response to Climate Change and the Links to Well-being: a Study of University Students in the Netherlands

Mona Betour El Zoghbi, Walid El Ansari

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):118-124 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3998  

Aims: This study explored the concerns and contributions of university students in response to the ethical dimensions of climate change, and the implications for their well-being. The study focused on university students as leaders of future society while facing complex environmental and socio-economic challenges. Methods: A total of 8 focus groups (FG) were conducted (66 participants from over 10 different universities across the Netherlands). In addition, 9 in-depth interviews with Dutch university students from different academic backgrounds, and 16 interviews with Dutch key informants in the environment, youth and public health fields...

University Students as Recipients of and Contributors to Information on Climate Change: Insights from South Africa and Implications for Well-being

Mona Betour El Zoghbi, Walid El Ansari

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):125-132 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3999  

Aims: This study aimed to enhance the in-depth understanding of the contextual dimensions that shape the relationships between climate change communication approach and youth well-being. The study focused on university students who constitute the key stakeholders and future decision-makers and leaders for managing the long-term climate risks. Methods: A total of 10 focus group interviews were conducted with 117 undergraduate and graduate South African university students from over 12 universities located in different provinces of South Africa. In addition, another 16 interviews were also undertaken with university students, 10 interviews...

Health 2020 - Achieving Health and Development in Today's Europe

Zsuzsanna Jakab, Agis D. Tsouros

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):133-138 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a4045  

The 21st-century health landscape is shaped by growing global, regional and local interdependence and an increasingly complex array of interlinking factors that influence health and well-being. Most of today's major public health challenges, including noncommunicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, health inequalities and the health effects of austerity measures in some countries, cannot be addressed effectively without intersectoral and coordinated action at supranational, national and local levels. The 53 countries of the WHO European Region developed and adopted a European policy framework and strategy for the 21st century (Health 2020) as a...

WHO calls for higher tobacco taxes to save more lives.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):117  

WHO calls for stronger focus on adolescent health. Road traffic injuries, HIV/AIDS, suicide are top causes of death; depression is number 1 cause of illness and disability.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2014, 22(2):139