Emden - The health of people in rural areas has been little studied to date. In order to provide reliable data on the health situation of the population, how it is changing and what support is needed, a research team led by Prof Dr Jutta Lindert at Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences is conducting a study for the first time at three points in time in the region of north-west Lower Saxony.
The RISING (Resilient IndividualS in TransformING regions) study, which was launched at the end of 2022, has already revealed some exciting findings. The data shows changes in mental health. For example, in the first wave of the survey, it was mainly people under the age of 30 who reported mental stress, while in the second survey more people in middle age reported this. The data also shows a connection between living situation and mental stress. Loneliness and a lack of social relationships in particular are therefore a central aspect of the changes in mental health. In turn, loneliness and social relationships are unequally distributed: more young women than other groups report this situation.
Intervention options are to be developed based on the data. The third wave of the RISING study is currently underway. "There are still many unanswered questions, particularly regarding changes in the region and the health of its inhabitants," says Lindert. Anyone aged 18 and over living in the region can take part in the study until mid-September. This is possible both online at http://www.hs-emden-leer.de/sl/rising-studie and in writing by questionnaire.
To receive the questionnaire and a stamped envelope, interested parties can send an email to rising@hs-emden-leer.de or call 0152 04111762.
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Katrin Hellwig
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Emden, 30 June 2025