Summary information

Study title

University Student Health Survey 2012

Creator

Kunttu, Kristina (Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS))
Pesonen, Tommi (Oy 4Pharma Ltd)

Study number / PID

FSD2959 (FSD)

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2959 (URN)

10.60686/t-fsd2959 (DOI)

Data access

Restricted

Series

University Student Health Surveys

The survey series charts the physical, mental and social health of undergraduate students of higher education institutions in Finland. Other main themes include health-related behaviour and associated attitudes, social relationships, studies and financing studies, opinions on and the use of student health services. In addition to core questions, each survey contains questions on particular themes. The surveys were conducted by the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS) at four-year intervals between 2000 and 2016. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Social Insurance...

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Abstract

The national survey focused on the health and health-related behaviour of university and university of applied science (polytechnic) students in Finland. Questions covered physical, mental, dental and sexual health, health-related behaviour, cultural and social meanings of physical activities, social interaction, learning disabilities, study environment, bullying, stalking and violence, the use of and satisfaction with student health services. Another aim was to provide information about immigrant students. General state of health was charted with a number of questions relating to long-term illnesses, disabilities or disorders. Some questions covered the respondents' weight and height, and attitude to food. Psychological or social symptoms causing problems were investigated. Psychosocial health was further studied using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Use of and satisfaction with health services was studied with questions relating to health professionals visited during the past year and in which service organisation, satisfaction with the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS), reasons for using other than FSHS health services, and what type of guidance they would like in certain issues (e.g. stress or weight management, study skills, alcohol use, smoking cessation). Engagement in sporting activities and less vigorous physical activities, and use of performance enhancing substances (doping) were surveyed. Eating habits were investigated with a number of questions based on the Index of Diet Quality (IDQ), for instance, asking where the respondents ate their main meals and the consumption of dairy products, bread, fruit, vegetables, etc. The respondents were also asked how often they brushed or flossed their teeth and used toothpaste or xylitol products, and whether they had problems with teeth grinding, had bite guard, or experienced facial pain or jaw locking. Health-related behaviour was further studied by asking the respondents about their smoking...
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Methodology

Data collection period

13/02/2012 - 26/06/2012

Country

Finland

Time dimension

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Analysis unit

Individual

Universe

Undergraduate students, aged under 35, studying at a university or a university of applied sciences (polytechnic) in Finland during the study year 2011-2012

Excludes: National Defence University, Åland University of Applied Sciences and Police University College

Sampling procedure

Probability: Stratified

Kind of data

Quantitative

Data collection mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper
Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Access

Publisher

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Publication year

2014

Terms of data access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

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