As your children graduate high school and think about leaving the nest it’s perfectly natural to worry about their wellbeing.
However, research carried out by school-leaver service Year13 in conjunction with student accommodation provider Scape for the 2023 Gen Z Wellbeing Index has shown the additional benefits of young people living in purpose-built student accommodation.
The study surveyed over 1000 young Australians and 900 Scape residents about key wellbeing areas such as mental health, exercise, sleep and diet. The results found that Scape residents were more likely to be in better physical and mental health, to sleep better, to have a healthier diet, to cook for themselves, to not suffer from loneliness and burnout, and to not be struggling to make friends.
This raises the question – what is it about Scape student accommodation that could provide an environment for young people to thrive? The answers might be more simple than you think.
The first asset to Scape’s accommodation is its emphasis on communal spaces.
Despite living in the age of social media, the latest generation of young adults are feeling lonelier than ever. In fact, research has shown a link between increased online use and feelings of social isolation.
On the other hand, research has shown that co-housing results in improvements in areas such as social support, and sense of community. Whether you’re cooking a meal in the kitchen, watching a movie, enjoying the gyms and fitness facilities, or just kicking back in one of the social spaces, there are always opportunities to be surrounded by people you’re bound to be in common with.
While a typical share house might mean a young person has a community of a few people to live with, purpose-built student accommodation means that you enjoy the privacy of your own space while having plenty of opportunities to socialise. Scape also specifically offers events to help residents get to know each other, such as movie nights, fitness classes in the building’s gyms and more.
Another clear advantage of Scape’s student accommodation is the access to support services. Every resident gets access to a custom built wellness system supported by Sonder, a wellbeing app that provides 24/7 support in areas such as mental health, safety and security, and in-person assistance.
Finally, Scape’s facilities encourage positive behaviours. Scape accommodation is specifically located in central areas close to university, which encourages people to commute via public transportation, or even by foot to their college, university, TAFE, or workplace of choice. Research from University of East Anglia and the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR) revealed that active commuting methods such as walking or public transport have a positive impact on wellbeing areas such as social health, fitness and psychological well being compared to commuting by car.
For those parents helping their children achieve independence as young adults, purpose-built student accommodation such as Scape can offer many of the freedoms that young people desire while providing the infrastructure and support systems to ensure that they thrive. Check out Scape’s website for more information about their accommodation and wellbeing programs.
And click here to download your free copy of the 2023 Gen Z Wellbeing Index.
