The role of walking-tracking apps and chronic medical conditions for adult students’ quality of life: A cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered health behaviors, particularly among adult students in Saudi Arabia. The increased use of walking-tracking apps and the challenges faced by individuals with chronic medical conditions have influenced overall quality of life (QOL). To assess the influence of having a medical condition and the use of walking-tracking apps on QOL among adult students in Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was utilized in June 2024 to measure QOL using the WHOQOL-BREF scale, which covers physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, and environmental health. Participants were grouped based on their use of walking-tracking apps and the presence of a chronic medical condition. Statistical analysis included independent t-tests, Pearson correlations, and chi-square tests to determine significant associations (p < 0.05). The sample consisted of 412 participants. The chi-square test revealed a significant association between having a medical condition and using a walking-tracking app (p = 0.037), with individuals without medical conditions being more likely to use these apps. However, despite the high prevalence of app usage (65.3 %), no significant improvements in QOL were observed for app users across any of the QOL domains. Participants with medical conditions reported significantly higher QOL scores in all domains, particularly in psychological health (p < 0.001) and social relationships (p = 0.001). Positive correlations were observed for factors like meaningful life, concentration, and access to healthcare among those with medical conditions. Students with chronic medical conditions reported higher QOL whereas the use of walking-tracking apps had limited direct impact on their QOL. Future studies should explore factors that play a critical role in enhancing QOL beyond physical health and technology usage, including social support and the Saudi healthcare system.