University student well-being in the United Kingdom: A scoping review of its conceptualisation and measurement

TY - JOUR

T1 - University student well-being in the United Kingdom: A scoping review of its conceptualisation and measurement

AU - Dodd, Alyson

AU - Priestley, Michael

AU - Tyrrell, Katie

AU - Cygan, Sebastien

AU - Newell, Catherine

AU - Byrom, Nicola

PY - 2021/1/8

Y1 - 2021/1/8

N2 - Background: Well-being is a multifaceted construct, and measuring well-being, both within particular groups and at a national level, is a priority for policy and practice. This national agenda on measuring well-being is mirrored in the Higher Education sector. This is the first conceptual review of how well-being is measured among university students in the UK. Aims: The aims of the review were to identify i) the definitions or conceptualisations of well-being guiding the selection of well-being indicators for research within this population and ii) measures of well-being used in university students in the UK. Methods: A scoping review method was used. Results: Twenty-eight validated indicators used to measure well-being in UK students were identified. While many were direct measures of (primarily mental or psychological) well-being, indirect ‘proxy’ indicators, including measures of mental health symptoms, were identified. Conclusions: This review has highlighted that there are inconsistencies in defining and measuring university student well-being, and the measures that have been used in this population are focused on subjective experience. These findings are in line with reviews of well-being measures in the general population. Implications for further research are discussed.

AB - Background: Well-being is a multifaceted construct, and measuring well-being, both within particular groups and at a national level, is a priority for policy and practice. This national agenda on measuring well-being is mirrored in the Higher Education sector. This is the first conceptual review of how well-being is measured among university students in the UK. Aims: The aims of the review were to identify i) the definitions or conceptualisations of well-being guiding the selection of well-being indicators for research within this population and ii) measures of well-being used in university students in the UK. Methods: A scoping review method was used. Results: Twenty-eight validated indicators used to measure well-being in UK students were identified. While many were direct measures of (primarily mental or psychological) well-being, indirect ‘proxy’ indicators, including measures of mental health symptoms, were identified. Conclusions: This review has highlighted that there are inconsistencies in defining and measuring university student well-being, and the measures that have been used in this population are focused on subjective experience. These findings are in line with reviews of well-being measures in the general population. Implications for further research are discussed.

KW - Well-being

KW - Higher Education

KW - University student

KW - Scoping review

KW - Measurement

M3 - Article

SN - 0963-8237

JO - Journal of Mental Health

JF - Journal of Mental Health

ER -