Health-Related Quality of Life and Other Health-Related Variables Among University Students in Kazakhstan: Implications for Holistic Health

In this quantitative study, we aimed to assess the health-related quality of life and other health-related variables among university students at the Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan. We surveyed a convenience sample of 568 university students by using the “World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version” from February to March 2023. Most university students in the study had what was considered a healthy weight and were non-smokers. Many students reported spending much time on social media, and only a small percentage were engaged in regular physical activity. The results report moderate levels of perceived overall health-related quality of life and satisfaction with health among the students, with environmental health being rated as the best dimension of health-related quality of life and psychological health as the poorest. University students who spend considerable time on social media were found to more often have poorer physical health, whereas students who engage in more physical activity were found to have better physical health. Older age, not being from Kazakhstan, being Christian or Muslim, and belonging to the School of Medicine were associated with better psychological health. Students who were obese and alcohol drinkers reported poor psychological health. Being younger and a Muslim, having higher economic status and a healthy weight, and not consuming alcohol were associated with better environmental health. Our results underscore the need for university interventions to promote holistic health, by focusing on university students’ physical, psychological, social and environmental health.