Wellbeing of Lower Income Group University Students During Covid19 Pandemics: Multi-Group Analysis of Male-Female and Urban-Rural Origin

Abstract

This research was conducted during the COVID 19 pandemic to determine if there is a significant difference in the wellbeing of the lower-income group university students between (1) males and females and (2) urban and rural origin. A quantitative non-experimental comparative study was adopted, and data was collected via an online survey using a convenience sampling technique. A standardized World Health Organization-QOL BREF questionnaire containing 26 items was used for assessing the QOL of the subjects. Partial Least Square – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and multigroup analysis (MGA) was utilized to perform the analysis. The respondents comprised of 305 students, 112 from the urban and 193 rural areas. The results suggest there are significant differences between male and female students for physical and psychological health domain. However, the findings did not support for any differences between urban and rural origin towards the four domains of quality of life. The findings help to understand the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on health and wellbeing of university’s students which is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 to promote sustainable health to all. Assessing the university students’ health and wellbeing during the pandemic is important for assisting policymakers and higher education institutions to work on strategies and action plans for inclusive health care supports to students as the future leaders.