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. 2018 Sep;12(3):190-196.
doi: 10.1016/j.anr.2018.08.001. Epub 2018 Aug 11.

The Association Between Perceived Stress and Quality of Life in University Students: The Parallel Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms and Health-Promoting Behaviors

Eun Ji Seo  1 , Jeong-Ah Ahn  1 , Laura L Hayman  2 , Chun-Ja Kim  3
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Free article

The Association Between Perceived Stress and Quality of Life in University Students: The Parallel Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms and Health-Promoting Behaviors

Eun Ji Seo et al. Asian Nurs Res (Korean Soc Nurs Sci). 2018 Sep.
Free article

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined whether depressive symptoms and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors mediate the association between perceived stress and quality of life (QoL) in university students.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey, Korean university students (N = 187, Mage = 23.97 years; 54.0% Woman) completed structured questionnaires with psychometric adequacy. A parallel multiple mediation model was used to test the mediating effect of depressive symptoms and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors on the relationship between perceived stress and QoL.

Results: Total effect of perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors on QoL was -.55. Of these, total indirect mediating effect was -.50, whereas direct effect was only -.05 in the parallel mediation model. In particular, depressive symptoms (indirect effect = -.32) and health-promoting lifestyle behaviors (indirect effect = -.18) completely mediated the relationship between perceived stress and QoL.

Conclusion: The results suggest that effective strategies primarily focusing on improving depressive symptoms along with health behaviors are needed to decrease the negative effect of perceived stress on QoL.

Keywords: depression; health behavior; quality of life; stress, psychological.

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