Background: Several international studies have shown that college students report mental illness such as psychosomatic symptoms. At the same time, there are differences among college students' perceived social support. Aim: The present study is intended to study psychosomatic symptoms and social support among college students, as well as whether there are any gender differences or correlations regarding psychosomatic symptoms and social support. Method: A quantitative research design was used to study psychosomatic symptoms and social support. The present study applied a cross-sectional design and data were collected through a survey. The sample consisted of 132 college students from Mälardalen University. Results: College students report to a greater extent that they have psychosomatic symptoms such as irritation or being in a bad mood, headache, feeling down, feeling nervous and having difficulty to sleep. Psychosomatic symptoms are more common among women than among men. The majority of college students have social support from their family and friends. The result showed that both women and men have about the same amount of social support from their family. All forms of social support from friends are more common among women than among men. The study showed that there is a positive correlation between psychosomatic symptoms and social support. Conclusions: Psychosomatic symptoms are common among college students at Mälardalen University. The study could not confirm that there are differences in the extent of social support from family. However, all forms of social support from friends are more common among women than among men.

Bakgrund: Alkoholkonsumtionen bland ungdomar har sedan 2000-talets början minskat. Hur detta har påverkat ungdomarnas hälsa är i dagsläget okänt, då det råder brist på vetenskapligt underlag inom området. Emellertid har tidigare studier undersökt hälsan hos ungdomar som inte dricker alkohol i andra kontexter och tidsperioder, vilket indikerat på en koppling till hälsobrister snarare än hälsovinster framförallt vad gäller psykisk hhälsa. Syfte: Denna studie syftar till att undersöka huruvida avhållsamhet från alkohol bland ungdomar i årskurs två på gymnasiet är associerat med psykisk hälsa, samt om deras psykiska hälsa har förändrats från 2004 till 2012. Metod: För att undersöka sambandet mellan ungdomars avhållsamhet från alkohol och psykisk hälsa användes en kvantitativ metod med upprepade tvärsnittsstudier som studiedesign. Data från hälsoundersökningen Liv och Hälsa Ung Västmanland användes, med 2533 elever i årskurs två år 2004 och 2193 elever år 2012. Resultat: Andelen elever i årskurs två på gymnasiet som avhöll sig från att dricka alkohol var endast marginellt större år 2012 än 2004. Ungdomar som inte dricker alkohol uppvisade i mindre utsträckning antisocialt beteende jämfört med de som dricker, vilket gällde för båda åren. Dock i mindre utsträckning år 2012 än 2004, varvid alkoholkonsumtionen inte tycks ha varit av lika stor betydelse för graden av antisocialt beteende vid det senare undersökningsåret. Med avseende på psykosomatiska besvär och depression var ungdomars avhållsamhet från alkohol endast associerat med hälsofördelar det första undersökningsåret. År 2012 var icke-drickande snarare associerat med en högre grad av psykosomatiska besvär. Slutsatser: Ungdomars avhållsamhet från alkohol tycks inte vara associerat med några påtagliga hälsoeffekter bland ungdomar i årskurs två, med undantag för antisocialt beteende. Möjligtvis beror avsaknaden av hälsoeffekter 2012 på en ökad psykisk ohälsa bland både drickare och icke-drickare. / Background: Alcohol consumption among adolescents has declined since the beginning of the twenty-first century. Whether this has affected the health among the adolescents is currently unknown, due to the lack of empirical evidence regarding this area. However, previous studies have investigated the health of non-drinking adolescents in other contexts and time periods, which have indicated a connection to health deficiencies rather than health benefits. Especially regarding mental health. Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate whether alcohol abstinence among adolescents in the second year of upper secondary school is associated with mental health and whether their mental health has changed from 2004 to 2012. Method: In order to investigate the relationship between alcohol abstinence among adolescents, a quantitative method with a repeated cross-sectional design was used. Data from the Survey of Adolescent Life in Vestmanland was used, including 2533 second year students in 2004 and 2193 second year students in 2012. Results: The proportion of students in the second year of upper secondary school who abstained from drinking alcohol was only marginally greater 2012 than 2004. Non-drinking adolescents presented an antisocial behavior to a lesser extent than their drinking peers, which was applicable to both years. However, to a lesser extent in 2012 than 2004, where Conclusions: Alcohol abstinence among adolescents does not seem to have substantially affected the mental health of adolescents, except concerning anti-social behavior. Lack of health effects among the adolescents in 2012, may instead depend on a decrease in mental health among drinkers, as well as non-drinkers. Keywords: adolescents, alcohol abstinence, antisocial behavior, depression, mental health, psychosomatic symptoms.