Lifestyle Practices, Satisfaction with Life and the Level of Perceived Stress of Polish and Foreign Medical Students Studying in Poland

Michał Machul, Monika Bieniak, Justyna Chałdaś-Majdańska, Jadwiga Bąk, Agnieszka Chrzan-Rodak, Paulina Mazurek, Piotr Pawłowski, Daria Makuch-Kuśmierz, Anna Obuchowska, Adrianna Bartoszek, Katarzyna Karska, Krzysztof Jurek, Claudia Cardenas and Beata Dobrowolska
Additional contact information
Michał Machul: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Monika Bieniak: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Justyna Chałdaś-Majdańska: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Jadwiga Bąk: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Chrzan-Rodak: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Paulina Mazurek: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Piotr Pawłowski: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Daria Makuch-Kuśmierz: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Anna Obuchowska: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Adrianna Bartoszek: Students’ Scientific Association at the Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Katarzyna Karska: Department of Foreign Languages, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Krzysztof Jurek: Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology, John Paul II Catholic University, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Claudia Cardenas: Department of Primary Care, Avalon University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
Beata Dobrowolska: Department of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences; Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-10

Abstract: The adaptation of foreign students to a new country can be complicated due to different cultural values, language barriers and the way university courses are structured. The aim of the study was to analyze the lifestyle practices, satisfaction with life and the level of perceived stress of Polish and foreign students studying various medical disciplines in Poland with regard to chosen sociodemographic characteristics. The study included 231 foreign and 213 Polish students ( n = 444) taking different medical disciplines at the medical university in eastern Poland. Three research tools were used: Fantastic Lifestyle Questionnaire (FLQ), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Additionally, students’ sociodemographic data was collected. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed and correlations between variables were also examined. Our research indicated that Polish students obtained higher results in FLQ than foreign students. It also demonstrated a significantly higher level of stress among Polish students in comparison to foreign students. The self-assessment of their health condition, lifestyle, and rank associated to being healthy correlated with FLQ, SWLS and PSS-10. The present research can aid the development of support programs for foreign students so that the cultural adaptation processes would more positively influence their lifestyle and an education environment.

Keywords: lifestyle practices; Polish students; foreign students; sociodemographic characteristics; educational migration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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