Mental health of students A comparison between nursing administration and health care management students of the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau and medical students of the University of Technology Dresden

Background Studying at a university is a phase in life in which young adults are confronted with specific requirements. Medical students are considered to be particularly psychologically burdened. However, investigations comparing medical students with students of subjects in the same branch of industry are rare. Objectives The aim of the study was to examine and compare the mental health of medical students as well as of nursing administration and health care management students. Materials and methods Nursing administration and health care management students of the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ) and medical students of the University of Technology Dresden (TU Dresden) were included. Various aspects of mental health were surveyed using an online questionnaire, which included the measuring instruments TAI-G, BSI-18 and to determine the subjectively perceived burden of the study. In all, 258 students participated in the survey. Results No significant differences with regard to the total score of test anxiety and psychological symptoms could be found between the two student groups. However, medical students indicated that they perceived a significantly higher study burden compared to the nursing administration and health care management students. Conclusions The total scores were partly higher than scores presented in comparable studies. The students should receive preventive support in order to develop their own coping strategies. Not only the provision of help is necessary, but also active intervention with the help of health-promoting and preventive measures from the universities. Students should be integrated into these measures at an early stage.