Eurostudent 8: Well-being and mental health among students in European higher education

Higher education is an important socialisation environment for young adults. It not only provides opportunities for personal growth, self-discovery and thus influences young people’s self-identity,
assumptions and beliefs (e.g. Weidman, 2006), but it also impacts their professional identity and future labour market chances (Becker, 1964; Thurow,1975). Higher education is therefore an important rite of passage for young people’s transition into adulthood.

Covid-19

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rise of mental health issues and poor well-being among students in European higher education has raised quite some concerns among policymakers. It became clear quite quickly that the Covid-19 pandemic and measures to tackle it, such as social distancing, lockdowns and remote teaching, had a drastic impact on students’ mental health and well-being (Cosma et al., 2023; Doolan et al., 2021;European University Association, 2023).

Students experienced many significant changes in their study process, living situation and social interactions (European University Association, 2022). Limited social interaction, physical isolation from friends, family, fellow students and teachers, the closure of the campus, the sudden and unexpected transition to online learning which many students found difficult to engage effectively – has led to a heightened sense of loneliness, distress, anger, anxiety, and boredom – causing an increase in mental health issues (Chen & Lulock, 2022; Elharake et al.,2022; Salimi et al., 2021; Savage et al., 2020).

Mental health and cognitive functions

Mental health problems are known to impair cognitive functions, making it difficult for students to concentrate, retain information, and perform well in exams. It is also well-established that physical and mental health of students are essential predictors for the successful completion of their studies (Chen & Lulock, 2022; Lipson, Lattie, & Eisenberg, 2019; Salimi et al., 2021). These developments have increased worries about students’ well-being, which has led to increased attention on a local, national, and institutional level in most European countries.

In response to these increased concerns, EUROSTUDENT 8 laid a particular focus on students’ mental health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is an integral component of health and well-being and is not merely the absence of mental disorders; it concerns the ability to make decisions, build relationships, cope with the stresses of life, work productively and make a contribution to one’s community (World Health Organization, 2022; 2024).

In this report we examine the well-being and mental health of students using various indicators, which we describe in our report. This report sheds some light on student well-being and mental health across Europe and to what extent this varies across countries.