Psychosocial Correlates of the Short-Form-36 Multidimensional Health Survey in University Students

Abstract

Stress, social support, and coping correlates of the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were examined in 307 undergraduate students. Instruments included the SF-36, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Ways of Coping Inventory-Revised. HRQOL appeared worse and reported stress and use of maladaptive coping strategies were higher than age-appropriate national norms. Stress, social-support, and coping strategies were correlated with SF-36 physical and mental health subscales. In a stepwise multiple regression equation predicting the SF-36 Mental Health Composite Scale, stress, escape-avoidance coping, problem-focused coping, and accepting-responsibility coping emerged as significant predictors. In another stepwise multiple regression equation predicting the SF-36 Physical Composite Scale, self-control coping and family support emerged as significant predictors. Results suggest that psychosocial measures are excellent predictors of mental HRQOL but are not as strong for physical HRQOL. Possible interventions for improving health status among college students are offered.