Students’ quality of life before and during the Covid-19 pandemic: A comparative analysis using multidimensional inventory of students’ quality of life

Abstract

Objective: This article aims to describe and compare students’ quality of life (QOL) in Poland before and during the Covid-19 pandemic using a multidimensional inventory of students’ quality of life (MIS-QOL).

Research Design & Methods:The article shows the results of a study conducted among university students from Poland. The number of participants was N2019=184 and N2021=287. Within the exploratory approach, we analysed fourteen dimensions of the students’ QOL using various tools, including general descriptive statistics as well as Student’s t-test, correlation, and clustering analysis.

Findings:Evidence from previous research indicates that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted QOL also among university students. The article shows the most vulnerable areas of life possibly affected by the pandemic situation.

Implications & Recommendations:The research confirmed that the students’ QOL increased in terms of finance, relationships with partners, and volunteering and decreased in areas such as health, free time, and technology. Importantly, students were aware of the decrease only in the context of technology and perceived other dimensions in the same way as before the pandemic.

Contribution & Value Added:We distinguished the most suitable actions for keeping student’s quality of life at a high level. The results may be beneficiary for managers, universities, and students.