Dokument

Summary:
Background:First-year students often adopt health risk behaviorsduring theirfirst semester such as increased consumption ofunhealthy food, decreased physical activity, and increased alcoholuse. Expectations, social tie’sefforts to motivate behavior, andcoresidence with parents can influence said behaviors.Aims:We assessed how students’health behaviors andexpectations change over thefirst semester, and how theaforementioned factors influence the maintenance or change ofbehavior and expectations.Methods:A longitudinal survey design was implemented. A total ofN= 163 Germanfirst-year students (81% female; 18% male; 1% non-binary;Mage= 21.20,SD= 2.66) completed online questionnaires,including the NCHRBS and AUDIT, during the Covid-19 pandemicat the beginning (November 2020) and after the end (May 2021)of theirfirst semester.Results:Current and expected food consumption and physicalactivity became healthier over time. The current and expectednumber of drinks consumed per month increased. Change inexpectations for physical activity, number of drinks and bingedrinking were predicted by the initial respective behavior. Thenumber of drinks and expected physical activity becameunhealthier in relation to reported initial parental influence todrink and to be physically inactive. Moving out of the parentalhome predicted an increase in current and expected number ofdrinks and in current and expected binge drinking. These effectsof moving out were not mediated by perceived parental or peerinfluence.Conclusions:Interventions should target these behaviors andexpectations during thefirst semester and address parentalinfluence on physical activity and alcohol use.

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