Determination of Health perception, healthy lifestyle behaviors and quality of life of health sciences faculty students during the COVID-19 pandemic process

Aim: This research was conducted to determine the health perception, healthy lifestyle behaviors and quality of life of university students during the Covid-19 pandemic and to examine their relationship with sociodemographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out using a descriptive and crosssectional model. The universe of the research consists of students studying at Iğdır University Faculty of Health Sciences in the 2022-2023 academic year. Stratified random sampling model, one of the probability-based sampling methods, was used in the sampling of the study. In this direction, the study was completed with 448 students who voluntarily participated in the study. The data of the study were obtained with the Individual Description Form, Health Perception Scale, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II (SYBDÖ II) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF). Since the data showed normal distribution, parametric tests were used in the analysis of the data. Results: It has been determined that the health perceptions of the students participating in the research are high, their healthy lifestyle behaviors are moderate, and their quality of life is moderate. It was seen that there were significant differences in gender, department and maternal education status variables in the three scales used in the research. Positive significant relationships were found between health perception and healthy lifestyles, behaviors and quality of life sub-dimensions. Finally, positive significant relationships were found between healthy lifestyle behaviors and quality of life subdimensions. Conclusion: As a result, it has been determined that there is a positive correlation between health perception, healthy lifestyle behaviors and quality of life. According to this determination, in order to increase the quality of life of the individual, plans to develop positive health perception and healthy lifestyle behaviors should be targeted. The health of the students of the health department of the universities should be evaluated in terms of public health and awareness should be created by informing about health perception and healthy lifestyle behaviors by taking into account their sociodemographic characteristics.