Academic risk, depressive symptoms and psychological resources in university students: a gender analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Studying at the university entails multiple challenges, such as adaptation, satisfactory performance and maintaining an academic trajectory that allows for the successful completion of the chosen academic program, before which university students present various risk and protection factors. Objective: This research aims to contrast the academic and mental health risk factors, as well as the psychological resources among women and men who study at the university in Mexico. Methodology: It has a quantitative approach, of a descriptive-comparative type and with a cross section. In total there were 2460 university students. A checklist of academic risk factors, psychological resources scales, CESD depressive symptoms scale and problem behaviors were applied. Results: The main findings show that women in a higher percentage than men have care activities for others, study at university with children, and live with their family in the same city. In contrast, a greater proportion of them have economic and love difficulties, they combine studies and work, they experienced the migration of a direct family member and that of themselves, they have pending subjects to study and have experienced some situation of violence. They have greater social resources than men. Conclusions: A differentiated profile between men and women is confirmed in all the variables studied, which has implications for the design of comprehensive care and risk prevention programs in the university population.