IMPLICATIONS OF CHRONIC DISEASES AND ACADEMIC STRESS ON STUDENTS’ QUALITY OF LIFE
Abstract
The present study had two main aims, namely to identify differences between the quality of life of students with chronic illness compared to that of students without significant health difficulties and to identify significant predictors among academic stressors. Materials and methods: Data were collected between May and July 2023 using an instrument consisting of The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF and Academic Stress Scale from 257 students, of whom 52 had a diagnosis of chronic illness and 202 did not. Results: there were significant differences according to the presence or absence of chronic illness in psychological health [t(255) = -2.569, p = 0.011], physiological health [t(255) = -5.502, p < 0.01] and social relationships [t(255) = -2.640, p = 0.009]. Among subjects with a chronic illness, two significant predictive models were identified, the first is composed of the predictor self-perceptions (F(1, 54)=23.62, p<.01), and the second from the predictors self-perceptions and time limits (F(2, 54)=16.27 p<.01). Among subjects without a chronic illness three statistically significant predictive models were identified, the third strongest being made up of self-perceptions, pressure to perform and time limits (F(3, 201)=40.00, p<.01). Conclusions: the quality of life of students with chronic illness is significantly lower compared to that of students without chronic illness. In addition to the fact that students’ quality of life is impacted by academic stress driven by self- perceptions and time limits, that of students without chronic illnesses is additionally impacted by pressure to perform.
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