A healthy lifestyle isn’t just good for the body – it’s essential for the mind. A new longitudinal study has explored how everyday lifestyle choices can predict mental wellbeing and mental health problems in university students from Germany and China. The findings shed light on how habits such as exercise, smoking, diet, and sleep patterns can significantly influence psychological wellbeing.
The study at a glance
Researchers followed 2991 German students (average age 21.7) and 12,405 Chinese students (average age 20.6) over the course of a year. Using the Positive Mental Health Scale and a short version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, the study examined how lifestyle factors predicted both positive mental health (PMH) and mental health problems (MHP).
The lifestyle choices studied included:
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Frequency of physical activity
Frequency of mental activities (such as study or creative work)
Alcohol consumption
Smoking
Vegetarian diet
Social rhythm regularity (how structured daily routines were)
Key findings
At baseline, better mental health was linked to:
Lower BMI
Higher frequency of physical and mental activities
Non-smoking
Non-vegetarian diet
A more regular social rhythm
Over one year:
Physical activity predicted higher positive mental health.
Smoking predicted higher levels of mental health problems.
Irregular daily rhythms influenced mental health in complex ways – boosting PMH but also linked to more MHP.
Cultural differences emerged:
In Germany, moderate alcohol consumption predicted better mental health.
In China, alcohol consumption predicted poorer mental health.
Why this matters for young people’s mental health
For students and young adults, lifestyle choices can play a critical role in shaping long-term wellbeing. The research highlights that:
Exercise and regular routines remain two of the strongest predictors of good mental health.
Smoking consistently predicts poorer mental health outcomes.
Cultural context may influence how behaviours like alcohol use affect wellbeing.
Implications for CAMHS professionals
For those working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), these findings emphasise the value of promoting healthy daily routines, physical activity, and smoking prevention among young people. Interventions that encourage balanced lifestyles may not only reduce risk of mental health difficulties but also actively build positive mental wellbeing.
Final thoughts
This large-scale, cross-cultural study demonstrates that healthy lifestyle choices can predict better mental health over time, regardless of cultural differences. For professionals, parents, and educators, it reinforces the importance of creating environments where young people can establish healthy, balanced routines early in life.
👉 Read the full research article here: Healthy lifestyle choices and student mental health
