Factors that can affect students' wellbeing – A quantitative retrospective study

Abstract

In Sweden, the role of the school nurse is to promote students' health and wellbeing and also to prevent illness. Wellbeing can involve creating good relationships but also includes feelings of participation and a meaningful existence. During a health dialogue the school nurse can discover students who experience mental illness, and factors that can affect students' wellbeing. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors that may affect students' wellbeing. A quantitative method with a retrospective longitudinal approach was applied. The study was conducted using collected data based on health questions posed to students in the first year of high school's health visit during the 2013/14–2018/19 school years. The results show differences between girls' and boys' wellbeing based on their answers to health issues. Factors that may affect students' wellbeing can pose a risk of mental illness. Mental illness is increasing in students and the increased demands at school may be the cause.