Students often know what they should do when it comes to healthy habits. They want to reap the benefits of eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, sleeping 7-9 hours each night, and exercising for 150 minutes each week. However, behavior change is difficult—for all of us.
Studies suggest that between the ages of 18 and 25 is a critical time for young adults to change their attitudes and create new habits. Recent research shows that colleges can support student health and wellness with health promotion programs to assist behavior change during these years.
College health promotion programs can lead to student health behavior change
A 2020 study published in the Journal of Primary Prevention found that dramatic changes emerged in student health behaviors when a health behavior change program was implemented by schools. Results were documented for several objective indicators including fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep quantity, and exercise. In addition, students self-reported beneficial outcomes, such as:
- Sleep quality
- Flexibility
- Improved mood
- Reduced loneliness
- More satisfaction with their relationships
- Feeling better about their overall health
You have an opportunity to help students create healthy habits that can serve them throughout their academic careers at your institution and beyond.
While the health promotion program in this study was delivered in a classroom setting, the reality today is that many schools are engaged in distance learning and more students are taking online classes than ever before.
CampusWell’s online platform makes health promotion easy
CampusWell is in a unique position to be the linchpin of health promotion at your school. We can assist you in supporting your students’ desire to achieve their healthy habit goals using our exclusive, easy-to-implement online platform. Our weekly, student-centered content covers a range of wellness topics including:
Nutrition
(e.g., plant-based recipes, mindful eating)
Sleep
(e.g., sleep hygiene habits, recommended sleep apps)
Exercise
(e.g., workout videos, fitness tips for beginners)
We also provide engaging and relatable resources to help students in other areas that directly support their wellness, such as how to manage stress, improve study habits, create a more inclusive campus, and communicate better with friends, partners, and potential employers. All of our content is searchable and categorized by topic so students can focus on changing one behavior at a time—whether that’s quitting vaping, practicing meditation, or working on their time management skills.
With the CampusWell Multi-department option, your health services, counseling, athletics, and other departments can each have customized pages to share updates and communicate their own content with students wherever they are located.
CampusWell is a versatile platform that helps make a multi-departmental wellness initiative simple, sustainable, and engaging. Using technology, high quality, research-based content, and proven marketing strategies, together with your existing assets, we deliver a campus-wide wellness platform that will positively impact your students and institution.
Sources
Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. The American Psychologist, 55(5), 469-80. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.55.5.469
Wright, R. R., Nelson, R., Garcia, S. et al. (2020). Health behavior change in the classroom: A means to a healthy end?. Journal of Primary Prevention, 41, 445–472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-020-00605-0
Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. The American Psychologist, 55(5), 469-80. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.55.5.469
Wright, R. R., Nelson, R., Garcia, S. et al. (2020). Health behavior change in the classroom: A means to a healthy end?. Journal of Primary Prevention, 41, 445–472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-020-00605-0
Start promoting wellness on your campus today
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