SCHOOLTYPE, SCHOOL STRESS AND HEALTH IMPA IRMENT IN 17-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE-STUDENTS

In the present study a sample of 661 seventeen-year-old students of di fferent undergraduate colleges of the Canton of Zurich were investigat ed by questionnaire. They were asked about various psychosocial variab les, their consumer behavior, school-life and their physical and menta l health. The aim of the study was to investigate whether students of different college types differ in regard to their psychosocial and mor bidity characteristics: Out of the sample two subgroups were formed: S tudents of the traditional college type B (classical/modern languages) and C (mathematics and sciences) on the one hand, and students of the modern college type D (modern languages) and L (modern languages/fine arts) on the other. Regarding sociodemographic variables and social c ontact there were no differences for both sexes between the two colleg e types. Female students of the modern colleges reported to drink alco hol more regularly. There was a significant difference, however, takin g college type into account in regard to eating behavior, body image, and physical and mental complaints. Girls of the modern colleges showe d more symptoms and disturbances on all applied check lists. Regardles s the college type, the results indicated that low academic grades and stressfully assessed school life were accompanied with significantly higher symptom scores in female students. The findings of the study in dicate that targeted concepts for prevention and health promotion shou ld be advanced especially in the classes of the modern colleges.