Factors affecting Quality of Life according to BMI of Women College Students

Yom, Young Hee; Chang, Hae Kyung

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting quality of life according to Body Mass Index (BMI) of women college students.
METHODS
The research design was a descriptive survey design using a convenience sampling. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Participants were 348 women college students. Data analysis was done using SPSS/WIN 18.0 program for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchial multiple regression.
RESULTS
According to BMI, 3 groups of students were identified. Differences between the groups for quality of life were significant. The major factors affecting quality of life in the underweight group were departments (college), body stress and ego-resilience which explained 27.9% of the variance in quality of life. Body stress and ego-resilience were significant predictors explaining 23.1% of the variance in quality of life in the normal weight group. Ego-resilience was also a significant predictor in the overweight group explaining 15.2% of the variance in quality of life.
CONCLUSION
Findings indicate a need to decrease body stress and strengthen ego-resilience to improve quality of life of women college students. Further studies are needed to examine nursing intervention strategies for improving quality of life for women college students.