Psychological Distress, Hopelessness and Quality of Life among Low Achievers

Abstract

This study examine the psychological distress, Hopelessness, and Quality of Life among low-achieving university students. A sample of N=260 students (126 males and 134 females), aged 15 to 30, was selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Beck’s Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire. Correlation analysis revealed that Quality of Life has a significant positive relationship with Stress and Anxiety (r=.38, p<.01), while a significant negative correlation was found between Hopelessness and Quality of Life (r=-.24, p<.01), indicating that increased pessimism significantly decreases life satisfaction. Regression analysis further confirmed that psychological distress factors explain approximately 18.4% of the variance in students' Quality of Life (R2=.184, p<.001). Furthermore, independent sample t-tests revealed significant gender differences in Hopelessness (t=2.34, p=.020), with males demonstrating higher levels (M=5.46) compared to females (M=4.91). These findings highlight the critical impact of academic-related distress on subjective well-being and advocate for holistic support systems to foster resilience among students with lower academic rankings.