All a matter of routine? How continuous habits and a routine impact student’s mental wellbeing
Type of research: quantitative, mixed-method
Description:
Stress is a well-known challenge for university students. Demands as frequent assignments, exams, a side job and limited free time can jeopardise student’s mental wellbeing. This constant pressure makes it difficult to stay on track with responsibilities, maintain or even establish regular routines. However, following positive habits, such as eating healthy, practicing mindfulness, following a study schedule or physical exercises can help students manage their mental load more effectively. But how feasible is it for students to maintain a healthy routine when they are burdened with numerous other responsibilities?
This research is inspired by Dr. Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist and professor at the Standford University. He owns a well-known health & fitness podcast called Huberman Lab, in which he, in cooperation with famous professionals, discusses psychophysiological principles and tools that can improve different facets of mental health. In various episodes, Huberman provides different tools and routines that have shown to be significantly effective to bolster one’s mental health (https://www.hubermanlab.com/).
The study’s aim is to investigate the impact of habit formation and routines on the mental wellbeing of students caused by their academic career. Possible research questions could focus on the impact of habits (e.g. sleeping patterns, movement, healthy diet, or social connection) on students mental wellbeing (e.g. resilience, depression, anxiety, academic burnout). Despite these suggestions, the assignment allows students to come up with their own ideas about their underlying variables and research question of interest.