Health-Related Quality of Life in University Students

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in university students encompasses the physical, psychological and social dimensions of well-being as they relate to academic life. Students navigate demanding curricula, varied accommodation arrangements and evolving social networks, all of which influence energy levels, stress, sleep quality and emotional resilience. Cross-national surveys reveal that socio-demographic factors such as gender, socioeconomic status and cultural background shape HRQoL outcomes. Academic pressures intersect with lifestyle behaviours—diet, exercise and leisure pursuits—to affect concentration, cognitive performance and mental health. The transition to adulthood coincides with heightened vulnerability to mood disorders and the establishment of health habits that endure beyond university. Interventions centred on psychoeducational initiatives, peer support and curriculum adjustment have demonstrated improvements in HRQoL and academic retention, while digital monitoring tools and institutional policies play key roles in fostering student welfare. These findings underline the necessity for universities to implement comprehensive strategies that integrate health promotion within the educational environment.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated factors that determine HRQoL and learning-life balance in student populations. One investigation of business undergraduates applied confirmatory factor analysis and regression models to show that physical health, psychological state and family relationships are principal contributors to overall well-being, while academic overload and gender influence perceptions of balance between study and personal life. A systematic review and meta-analysis across multiple cohorts estimated that approximately one quarter of students experience depressive symptoms, consistently linked to lower HRQoL. This work calls for nuanced support that addresses the severity, persistence and patterns of depression when designing mental health interventions for young adults in higher education.

Health-Related Quality of Life in University Students publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in health-related quality of life in university students across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL): A multidimensional assessment of an individual’s perceived physical, psychological and social functioning in relation to their health status.

Learning-life balance: The dynamic equilibrium between academic responsibilities and personal or leisure activities that supports overall well-being.

Depressive symptoms: Clinical indicators of mood disturbance—such as persistent low mood, anhedonia and cognitive impairment—that negatively affect daily functioning.

Meta-analysis: A quantitative method that combines data from several independent studies to estimate overall effect sizes and assess consistency across research findings.

References

1. Factors affecting quality of life and learning-life balance of university students in business higher education. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2024).
2. Relationship between depression and quality of life among students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports (2023).
3. Association between anxiety, depression and quality of life in male and female German students during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Psychiatry (2024).
4. Síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes del área de la salud e impacto en la calidad de vida*. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem (2023).