Identifikation mit dem Studiengang: Ein Schutzfaktor für die eigene Gesundheit?

Background: High group identification has a positive impact on wellbeing. In this study, we tested whether these results could be transferred to the university context and, more precisely, to the context of medical school. Regarding medical school as a high-achievement-oriented group context, we also investigated whether high identification could become a risk factor for obsessive demands on the self. Material and methods: This research is part of the LUST Study (Lübeck University Student Trial), a longitudinal survey at Lübeck University investigating students’ health. For this study, we surveyed 336 students from medical school during June 2015 regarding their identification with the medical school, their study-related behaviour and experience patterns (AVEM) and their general physical and mental health. Results: Identification has a positive effect on medical students’ health. However, with regard to the AVEM pattern, our study demonstrates that within this total positive effect there are two opposing indirect effects of high identification: a positive indirect effect via a healthy pattern and a negative indirect effect via a pattern of over-commitment. Discussion: This study highlights that, also in the university context, high identification has a positive impact on health. However, it also proves that high identification can become a risk factor for obsessive demands on the self. This negative impact is more likely to become a risk factor in high-achievement group contexts, such as medical school, and, more particularly, when self-defined performance goals do not correspond to real performance.