Abstract
Introduction: Understanding individuals’ patterns of time use enables them to allocate their time in a more purposeful and balanced manner, which may contribute to better health and well-being. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between time use patterns and health-related quality of life among male students residing in dormitories.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 365 male dormitory students at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences who were recruited using the convenience sampling method. Participants completed the Time Use Diary for both a weekday and a holiday, along with the Short Form-36 Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Spearman’s correlation test was performed to examine associations between time use domains and health-related quality of life, with statistical significance set at P≤0.05.
Results: Significant associations were observed between physical functioning and role limitations due to physical health problems with activities of daily living, work, and leisure activities. General health was significantly associated with activities of daily living (P<0.001), social participation (P=0.023), education (P<0.001), and leisure activities (P=0.008). Social participation was also significantly associated with physical functioning (P=0.001), emotional well-being (P=0.031), and role limitations due to emotional problems (P=0.001). Overall, the findings indicated that students’ time use patterns were not well balanced across major life domains.
Conclusion: An imbalanced pattern of time use was associated with several dimensions of health-related quality of life among male dormitory students. Educational interventions aimed at improving time allocation across daily life domains may promote a more balanced lifestyle and enhance students’ health-related quality of life.