FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN TURKEY

INTRODUCTION: Purpose of this descriptive study is to determine the mental health problems and quality of life levels of college students and examine the relationship between them. METHODS: The sample of the study consisted of 429 students continuing their education in Health School at Afyon Kocatepe University. Data were collected by using information form, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), SF 36 Quality of Life Scale questionnaires. In the analysis of obtained data, descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and correlation analyses were used. FINDINGS: Mental symptoms which the students got the highest scores from the subscales of BSI were respectively, depression (1.31±0.75), hostility (1.22±0.67) and anxiety (1.00±0.65). Discomfort severity index which is the overall score of the scale was found 1.07±0.61. Relation between state of mind and quality of life was found statistically significant (F: 70.894; p<0.000). When quality of life summary scores examined, it was found out that physical health summary score (48.92±7.93) and mental health summary score (43.44±9.52) points were low. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, according to averages of scores, it can be said that frequency of the mental symptoms of students are high but their quality of life is low. It was found that when students’ quality of life decreased, their mental symptoms increased.