MENTAL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF STUDENTS AT THE FACULTY OF HEALTH STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF MOSTAR

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health and quality of life are key aspects of students’ daily functioning, and circumstances such as living conditions can significantly influence them. Given the increasing number of young people facing psychological difficulties during their studies, researching the relationship between lifestyle and mental health is of great importance.
Objective: To examine the mental health and quality of life of students at the Faculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar.

Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was
conducted. The research included 150 participants: 84 students living as tenants (study group)
and 66 students living with their parents (control group). Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire specifically designed for this study, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, and the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) self- assessment questionnaire for psychological symptoms.
Results: A statistically significant difference was found between students living as tenants and those living with their parents in the psychological symptom self-assessment scale. Tenants scored significantly higher (p<0.001) in the domains of Somatization, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Interpersonal Sensitivity, Depression, Anxiety, Hostility/Aggression, Phobic Anxiety, and Paranoid Ideation. There was no statistically significant difference in quality of life between students living with their parents and those living as tenants (p<0.005).

Conclusion: Students living as tenants exhibit higher levels of psychological symptoms. However, there is no statistically significant difference in quality of life between students living as tenants and those living with their parents, regardless of the domain.