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

Creative Commons License

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

Applied Research in Quality of Life, vol.17, no.4, pp.2017-2039, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 17 Issue: 4
  • 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
  • Keywords: Academic satisfaction, COVID-19, Social contact, Subjective well-being, University students
  • Istanbul 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.