Factors that can affect students' wellbeing – A quantitative retrospective study

The World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of health is ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not just the absence of disease and disability.’ ‘Health is a human right and does not just mean the absence of disease’ (WHO, 1946). Health often affects how people feel about life. A good life-rhythm helps people experience meaning and context. The meanings of health are intertwined with one another to create the overall experience of health. The feeling of vitality and meaningfulness are of great value for the experience of health (Dahlberg and Segesten, 2010).

The WHO (2007) defines mental health as the human state of mental wellbeing. Mental health is affected by each person realising their own possibilities, coping with normal stresses in life, being able to work productively and being able to contribute to the society in which the person lives. The WHO's (2019) definition of mental health indicates that mental health is not the same as the absence of mental illness, and people can experience their existence as being meaningful despite mental stress. According to Granlund et al (2021) the relationship between health and mental health is an integrated part of health and more than the absence of mental disorders or disabilities. The school health service organisation in Swedish schools includes professionals such as school physicians and nurses, psychologists, social workers, guidance counsellors and special education teachers. The aim of the school health service is to provide medical, psychological, psychosocial and special education services to support environments that promote students' learning, development and health (National Board of Health and Welfare and Swedish National Agency for Education, 2016).