Work

Health-promoting resources and social study factors among students with and without foreign backgrounds in nursing and social work programs at six Swedish universities

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BackgroundStudents with foreign backgrounds can face challenges in the study environment linked to language, cultural roles, norms, and ethnicity. It is important to increase knowledge about students' own health-promoting resources and social study factors, to optimize a good study environment.ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe and investigate changes in health-promoting resources and social study factors in, respectively, the first and final semesters, for students with and without foreign backgrounds, in nursing and social work programs in Sweden.MethodsThe study had a repeated cross-sectional multicentre design at the group level. Students at six Swedish universities answered a web-based questionnaire in the first (n = 665) and final semester (n = 296) of nursing and social work programs. The questionnaire measured health-promoting resources (SOC-13; SHIS; OBQ), and social study factors (QPSNordic). Statistics were conducted through descriptive, correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses.ResultsAt baseline, students with foreign backgrounds reported significantly lower health-promoting resources, including SOC total (p < .004), SHIS (p < .004), and social study factors (p < .004), compared to other students. By the final semester, disparities between the two groups persisted in two items of social study factors. In the final semester, students' relationships and the value of group work predicted health-promoting resources for the entire student cohort.ConclusionSocial relationships were central to health-promoting resources for Swedish nursing and social work students. The results indicated the value of targeted actions, in the study environment, especially among students with foreign backgrounds.

Source: Work

DOI: 10.1177/10519815251381285

Authors: Annika Jensen, Ingrid Larsson, Elenita Forsberg, Pernilla Ouis, Inger Ahlstrand

Institutions: Halmstad University, Jönköping University

Language: English

Topic: Health and Wellbeing Research

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,150