Transdisciplinary research in student-oriented health promotion-a systematic review

Background The daily study routine is characterized by a lack of physical activity and a high sedentary time, which has a negative impact on health. Thus, the implementation of sustainable programs to promote physical activity at universities is gaining in importance. However, there is increasing scientific evidence that interventions are only successful when transdisciplinary methods are applied. Objectives This paper analyzes the role of transdisciplinary methods for the development and implementation of health-promoting interventions in the university setting among students and how these can be sustainably implemented in practice. Methods A systematic literature review of German- and English-language studies was conducted. It was crucial that the studies had transdisciplinary intervention approaches and took into account the physical activity and sitting behavior of students. Results Of the 1211 records identified, ten studies met the selection criteria. Three studies aimed to promote physical activity or reduce sitting time, while seven studies aimed to promote general health, focusing on physical activity-enhancing interventions. The identified intervention techniques are participation and empowerment (n = 10), cooperative planning (n = 8), interactive exchange of knowledge (n = 8), and capacity building (n = 8). Conclusions The results suggest that the use of transdisciplinary methods leads to greater acceptance and more sustainable implementation. Further studies are needed to explore the effectiveness of interventions using transdisciplinary methods. In particular, further research is needed for transdisciplinary studies on reducing sedentary behavior among students.