Correlation between “Quality of Life” and “Mental Health” among Rural High School Students

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between quality of life and mental health in high school students. This quantitative correlational research used the questionnaire tool on the rural high school student community in Dehloran city in the school year 2017-2018.The statistical population consisted of 1176 students and, based on Morgan’s table, the sample size was 308.Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were determined through preliminary distribution of a number of questionnaires (25)and by employment of Cronbach’s alpha test. Statistical tests (Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and regression) were used to examine research hypotheses. Moreover, the employed questionnaire was a combination of Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (1978) and the Quality of Life scale by Williams and Batten (1981). Results showed that the students had a high quality of life and an average level of mental health. There was a significant correlation between quality of life and mental health (correlation coefficient r=0.70, and p≤0.05).Regression results indicated that the independent variable (quality of life) could explain 49% of the variation in the dependent variable (mental health). Given the substantial effect that quality of life has on students’ mental health, the first step that the Ministry of Education should take is to concentrate on improving the quality of life of high school students through teaching them life skills.