Mind-Body Study: protocol for a prospective cohort investigating lifestyle behaviours and mental health outcomes among university students in Australia

Background: Anxiety, depression, and poor sleep affect up to 41% of university students, with potential adverse impacts on academic performance and quality of life. How students manage their mental wellbeing may inform supports needed. Methods: An observational study recruited students enrolled at universities in Australia to complete an online survey assessing demographics, health behaviours, self-management strategies, and outcomes of anxiety, depression, sleep quality, resilience, and quality of life. Survey responders were emailed invitations to complete a follow-up survey six months later. Results: The survey was opened by 1,976 persons; 47% met eligibility criteria, provided informed consent, and completed baseline survey. Majority participants were aged 18–25 years, female, non-Caucasian, international, and enrolled postgraduate. Validated tools revealed moderate/severe anxiety (27%), moderate/severe depression (29%), poor sleep quality (49%), low resilience (31%), and low/moderate quality of life (57%). Top mental wellbeing management strategies were social interaction, online activities and physical activities. Forty-five percent of participants (n=383) completed follow-up survey. Conclusions: Recruitment and retention for collection of self-reported health data may benefit from co-design, collaboration, and incentive-based approaches. The frequent use of social, online, and physical activities to self-manage wellbeingwarrant further investigation into their efficacy for mental wellbeing.