the mediating role of health-promoting behaviors in the relationship between generalized anxiety disorder symptoms and health-related quality of life among university students

The health-related quality of life (hrqol) of university students significantly influences their long-term well-being. therefore, identifying factors that affect hrqol is crucial. this study aimed to investigate the mediating role of health-promoting behaviors in the relationship between generalized anxiety symptoms and health-related quality of life among university students. this study employed a fundamental research design with a descriptive, correlational approach to data collection. the statistical population included undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students enrolled in universities in neyshabur during the 2023–2024 academic year. a total of 497 students were selected using cluster sampling. data were gathered using the generalized anxiety disorder scale, the 12-item short form health survey (sf-12), and the health-promoting lifestyle profile–short form. data analysis was performed using spss and lisrel software, with structural equation modeling (sem) used to test the hypothesized relationships. a significant relationship was found between generalized anxiety symptoms, health-promoting behaviors, and health-related quality of life (p < 0.05). furthermore, health-promoting behaviors significantly mediated the relationship between generalized anxiety symptoms and health-related quality of life, as indicated by model fit indices (cfi = 0.96, nfi = 0.94, nnfi = 0.96, ifi = 0.96, rfi = 0.93, gfi = 0.92, rmsea = 0.059). these findings suggest that professionals in psychology-related fields—such as clinical and health psychologists—can play a vital role in enhancing students' quality of life. by designing and implementing interventions that reduce generalized anxiety symptoms and promote health-enhancing behaviors, they can contribute meaningfully to the overall well-being of university students.