Approaches to health promotion in higher education: A scoping review (2014-2024)

Health promotion within higher education institutions is gaining increasing global attention, particularly in response to the growing health challenges faced by adolescents and young adults. This demographic often experiences a convergence of health-related issues, including poor dietary practices, substance use, mental health disorders, and obesity. These issues frequently interact in complex ways, influencing long-term health trajectories. This scoping review aimed to examine the breadth of strategies and research concerning health-promoting initiatives across universities worldwide, while identifying existing gaps in the literature.

Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2024 using the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases. After screening and eligibility assessment, 272 articles were included in the final review.

Thematically, 19% of studies focused on health-related policies and frameworks, 19% on mental health and wellness, 16% on technology-assisted interventions, 14% on physical activity, 7% on nutrition, 6% on behavioral habits, and others addressed curriculum restructuring.

Findings reveal that most interventions remain in preliminary stages of implementation, with limited follow-up studies evaluating their effectiveness or cost-efficiency. There is a pressing need for robust, longitudinal research to assess outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, regional disparities-especially the limited representation from Sub-Saharan Africa-underscore the necessity for inclusive, globally coordinated research networks to foster equitable health promotion across diverse educational settings.