Social Contact, Academic Satisfaction, COVID-19 Knowledge, and Subjective Well-being Among Students at Turkish Universities: a Nine-University Sample

Erden H. G., Özdoğru A., Çoksan S., Ögel-Balaban H., Azak Y., Altınoğlu Dikmeer İ., ...More

APPLIED RESEARCH IN QUALITY OF LIFE, vol.17, no.-, pp.2017-2039, 2022 (SSCI)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 17 Issue: -
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11482-021-10019-7
  • Journal Name: APPLIED RESEARCH IN QUALITY OF LIFE
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, Index Islamicus, Psycinfo
  • Page Numbers: pp.2017-2039
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Adverse effects of COVID-19 are seen not only on the physical health of infected individuals but also on their subjective well-being. Sudden changes in social lives, lockdowns, and shifts towards online education have had a negative impact on many people, especially university students. As part of an international study, the current study focused on the well-being of students at Turkish universities in relation to social contact, academic satisfaction, and COVID-19 knowledge. A total of 7363 students from nine universities (86.6% from state universities, 71.04% female, and 73.52% at bachelor’s level) participated in an online survey. Results revealed that females had lower levels of subjective well-being and academic satisfaction. According to a mediation model in the study, the relationship between social contact and well-being was mediated by academic satisfaction and COVID-19 knowledge. Our findings can guide future researchers, mental health professionals, universities, and policymakers to understand and improve subjective well-being of university students.