The relationship between students' health behaviors and health-related quality of life in Gál Ferenc University in Hungary

Abstract

University life can be stressful. Students try to balance work, family, community life and their studies. It is a critical period in young adulthood for an individual’s mental and physical health. The aim of the research was to examine the health behaviors (HB) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of the students. In the first phase, which covered the period from September to November 2021, 1,013 students (women 85.1%) at Gál Ferenc University (Szeged, Hungary) responded to a WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (WHOQOL, 1998) supplemented with questions about their studies. According to the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, 84.2% of the students rated their quality of life as good or very good, and 70% were satisfied or very satisfied with their health. Examined by domains, 67.26 ± 13.41 were the least satisfied with their quality of life in the field of environment and most satisfied 76.02 ± 22.22 in the field of physical health. There was no significant difference in the domains between the academic years. In the upcoming period, the elaboration of a health behavior questionnaire will be a priority task so as to follow the effects of the lifestyle change program.